Abstract
During 2012, 2013 and 2015, we collected small mammals within 25 km of the town of Boende in Tshuapa Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The prevalence of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in this area is unknown; however, cases of human infection were previously confirmed near these collection sites. Samples were collected from 353 mammals (rodents, shrews, pangolins, elephant shrews, a potamogale, and a hyrax). Some rodents and shrews were captured from houses where human monkeypox cases have recently been identified, but most were trapped in forests and agricultural areas near villages. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to assess evidence of MPXV infection and other Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) infections in these small mammals. Seven (2.0%) of these animal samples were found to be anti-orthopoxvirus immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody positive (six rodents: two Funisciurus spp.; one Graphiurus lorraineus; one Cricetomys emini; one Heliosciurus sp.; one Oenomys hypoxanthus, and one elephant shrew Petrodromus tetradactylus); no individuals were found positive in PCR-based assays. These results suggest that a variety of animals can be infected with OPXVs, and that epidemiology studies and educational campaigns should focus on animals that people are regularly contacting, including larger rodents used as protein sources.
Highlights
Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the species Monkeypox virus, is a zoonotic virus endemic to Western and Central Africa, and is a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus (OPXV)
Serum samples and blood recovered from Nobuto filter paper (Advantec) were assessed by modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of anti-OPXV immunoglobulin G (IgG)
Funisciurus and Heliosciurus are involved in the natural cycle of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in DRC [5,6,7,9,31,32]
Summary
Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the species Monkeypox virus, is a zoonotic virus endemic to Western and Central Africa, and is a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus (OPXV). Khodakevich et al [5] conducted an extensive, multi-year ecological survey of rodents and non-human primates at four locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) They reported an anti-OPXV seroprevalence of 23.7%. In 2013, a MPXV outbreak investigation in Bokungu, Tshuapa Province, DRC, reported anti-OPXV antibodies in two of three (66.7%) rope squirrels collected along with 65 other terrestrial small mammals (rodents and shrews) [7]. OPXV DNA via real-time PCR in dormice (6%, n = 100), giant pouched rats (5%, n = 40), and unstriped ground squirrels (Xerus sp., 100%, n = 1) Despite this serologic and PCR evidence, MPXV has been isolated from wild animals on only two occasions, once from a rope squirrel (F. anerythrus) and once from a sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) [9, 10]. Genetic diversity of seropositive squirrels was examined through phylogenetic analyses, and potential associations between seropositive animals and major vegetation types were investigated
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