Journal
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
Volume 155, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105254
Keywords
Monkeypox virus; Clinical cohort; qPCR; Clinical specimens; Viral load kinetics
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This study compared clinical data with longitudinal qPCR results in male monkeypox virus-infected patients. The findings showed the reliability of lesion swabs for detecting the virus, even in later stages of the disease, while oropharyngeal swabs and blood samples carried the risk of false negative results but may have value in asymptomatic cases or viral load monitoring.
Background: The ongoing monkeypox virus outbreak includes at least 7553 confirmed cases in previously non-endemic countries worldwide as of July 2022. Clinical presentation has been reported as highly variable, sometimes lacking classically described systemic symptoms, and only small numbers of cutaneous lesions in most patients. The aim of this study was to compare clinical data with longitudinal qPCR results from lesion swabs, oropharyngeal swabs and blood in a well characterized patient cohort. Methods: 16 male patients (5 hospitalized, 11 outpatients) were included in the study cohort and serial testing for monkeypox virus-DNA carried out in various materials throughout the course of disease. Laboratory analysis included quantitative PCR, next-generation sequencing, immunofluorescence tests and virus isolation in cell culture. Results: All patients were male, between age 20 and 60, and self-identified as men having sex with men. Two had a known HIV infection, coinciding with an increased number of lesions and viral DNA detectable in blood. In initial-and serial testing, lesion swabs yielded viral DNA-loads at, or above 10(6) cp/ml and only declined during the third week. Oropharyngeal swabs featured lower viral loads and returned repeatedly negative in some cases. Viral culture was successful only from lesion swabs but not from oropharyngeal swabs or plasma. Discussion: The data presented underscore the reliability of lesion swabs for monkeypox virus-detection, even in later stages of the disease. Oropharyngeal swabs and blood samples alone carry the risk of false negative results, but may hold value in pre-/asymptomatic cases or viral load monitoring, respectively.
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