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. 2024 Oct;30(10):2025-2032.
doi: 10.3201/eid3010.240632. Epub 2024 Aug 14.

One Health Investigation into Mpox and Pets, United States

Clint N Morgan, Natalie M Wendling, Nicolle Baird, Chantal Kling, Leah Lopez, Terese Navarra, Gracie Fischer, Nhien Wynn, Leslie Ayuk-Takor, Brandy Darby, Julia Murphy, Rachel Wofford, Emma Roth, Stacy Holzbauer, Jayne Griffith, Ali Ruprecht, Charlalynn Harris, Nadia Gallardo-Romero, Jeffrey B Doty

One Health Investigation into Mpox and Pets, United States

Clint N Morgan et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is zoonotic and capable of infecting many mammal species. However, whether common companion animals are susceptible to MPXV infection is unclear. During July 2022-March 2023, we collected animal and environmental swab samples within homes of confirmed human mpox case-patients and tested for MPXV and human DNA by PCR. We also used ELISA for orthopoxvirus antibody detection. Overall, 12% (22/191) of animal and 25% (14/56) of environmental swab samples from 4 households, including samples from 4 dogs and 1 cat, were positive for MPXV DNA, but we did not detect viable MPXV or orthopoxvirus antibodies. Among MPXV PCR-positive swab samples, 82% from animals and 93% from environment amplified human DNA with a statistically significant correlation in observed cycle threshold values. Our findings demonstrate likely DNA contamination from the human mpox cases. Despite the high likelihood for exposure, we found no indications that companion animals were infected with MPXV.

Keywords: DNA contamination; Mpox; One Health; United States; cats; companion animals; dogs; household; monkeypox virus; orthopoxvirus; pets; viruses; zoonoses.

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