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Published on: September 13, 2018
Correlation between monkeypox viral load and infectious virus in clinical specimens
Chuan Kok Lim1, Charlene McKenzie2, Joshua Deerain2
1Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Royal Melbourne Hospital at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Higher mpox virus (MPXV) loads in clinical samples correlate with increased infectivity in cell culture. This finding aids in understanding MPXV transmissibility and informs public health guidelines for mpox management.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The 2022 mpox outbreak highlighted the need to understand mpox virus (MPXV) infectivity beyond PCR detection.
- Limited studies have assessed MPXV infectivity in cell culture, impacting transmissibility assessments.
- Infection control and public health guidelines require better data on MPXV infectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate cell culture infectivity of clinical mpox samples with their respective viral loads.
- To use Vero cell cultures as a surrogate for assessing MPXV infectivity.
- To inform public health strategies by linking viral load to infectiousness.
Main Methods:
- Collected clinical samples from mpox patients between May and October 2022.
- Performed MPXV PCR to quantify viral loads in various sample types.
- Utilized Vero cell cultures to determine the infectivity of clinical samples.
Main Results:
- Skin and anal lesion samples showed significantly higher MPXV viral loads compared to throat or nasopharyngeal samples.
- Viral culture was successful in 80 out of 94 tested samples.
- A viral load threshold (Ct 34.1) was identified, with 50% of samples showing infectivity in cell culture.
Conclusions:
- Higher MPXV viral loads in clinical samples are associated with increased likelihood of infectivity in cell culture.
- Cell culture infectivity provides valuable data, complementing PCR, for understanding MPXV.
- Findings support refining testing and isolation policies for mpox patients.
