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American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
25 Nov 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0467
Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo1,2, Benjamin Monroe2, Christian Moundjoa3,4, Ateba Athanase4,5, Gordon Okpu6, Jillybeth Burgado2, Michael B. Townsend2, Panayampalli S. Satheshkumar2, Scott Epperson7, Jeffrey B. Doty2, Mary G. Reynolds2, Elisabeth Dibongue5, Georges Alain Etoundi8, Els Mathieu6, and Andrea M. McCollum2
Abstract/Excerpt
Monkeypox virus is a zoonotic Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) that causes smallpox-like illness in humans. In Cameroon, human monkeypox cases were confirmed in 2018, and outbreaks in captive chimpanzees occurred in 2014 and 2016. We investigated the OPXV serological status among staff at a primate sanctuary (where the 2016 chimpanzee outbreak occurred) and residents from nearby villages, and describe contact with possible monkeypox reservoirs. We focused specifically on Gambian rats (Cricetomys spp.) because they are recognized possible reservoirs and because contact with Gambian rats was common enough to render sufficient statistical power. We collected one 5-mL whole blood specimen from each participant to perform a generic anti-OPXV ELISA test for IgG and IgM antibodies and administered a questionnaire about prior symptoms of monkeypox-like illness and contact with possible reservoirs. Our results showed evidence of OPXV exposures (IgG positive, 6.3%; IgM positive, 1.6%) among some of those too young to have received smallpox vaccination (born after 1980, n = 63). No participants reported prior symptoms consistent with monkeypox. After adjusting for education level, participants who frequently visited the forest were more likely to have recently eaten Gambian rats (OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.91–5.92, P < 0.001) and primate sanctuary staff were less likely to have touched or sold Gambian rats (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.19–0.28, P < 0.001). The asymptomatic or undetected circulation of OPXVs in humans in Cameroon is likely, and contact with monkeypox reservoirs is common, raising the need for continued surveillance for human and animal disease.
https://www.ajtmh.org/configurable/content/journals$002ftpmd$002f102$002f1$002farticle-p206.xml?t:ac=journals%24002ftpmd%24002f102%24002f 1%24002farticle-p206.xml
25 Nov 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0467
Sarah Anne J. Guagliardo1,2, Benjamin Monroe2, Christian Moundjoa3,4, Ateba Athanase4,5, Gordon Okpu6, Jillybeth Burgado2, Michael B. Townsend2, Panayampalli S. Satheshkumar2, Scott Epperson7, Jeffrey B. Doty2, Mary G. Reynolds2, Elisabeth Dibongue5, Georges Alain Etoundi8, Els Mathieu6, and Andrea M. McCollum2
Abstract/Excerpt
Monkeypox virus is a zoonotic Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) that causes smallpox-like illness in humans. In Cameroon, human monkeypox cases were confirmed in 2018, and outbreaks in captive chimpanzees occurred in 2014 and 2016. We investigated the OPXV serological status among staff at a primate sanctuary (where the 2016 chimpanzee outbreak occurred) and residents from nearby villages, and describe contact with possible monkeypox reservoirs. We focused specifically on Gambian rats (Cricetomys spp.) because they are recognized possible reservoirs and because contact with Gambian rats was common enough to render sufficient statistical power. We collected one 5-mL whole blood specimen from each participant to perform a generic anti-OPXV ELISA test for IgG and IgM antibodies and administered a questionnaire about prior symptoms of monkeypox-like illness and contact with possible reservoirs. Our results showed evidence of OPXV exposures (IgG positive, 6.3%; IgM positive, 1.6%) among some of those too young to have received smallpox vaccination (born after 1980, n = 63). No participants reported prior symptoms consistent with monkeypox. After adjusting for education level, participants who frequently visited the forest were more likely to have recently eaten Gambian rats (OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.91–5.92, P < 0.001) and primate sanctuary staff were less likely to have touched or sold Gambian rats (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.19–0.28, P < 0.001). The asymptomatic or undetected circulation of OPXVs in humans in Cameroon is likely, and contact with monkeypox reservoirs is common, raising the need for continued surveillance for human and animal disease.
https://www.ajtmh.org/configurable/content/journals$002ftpmd$002f102$002f1$002farticle-p206.xml?t:ac=journals%24002ftpmd%24002f102%24002f 1%24002farticle-p206.xml