TY - JOUR
T1 - A silent enzootic of an orthopoxvirus in Ghana, West Africa
T2 - Evidence for multi-species involvement in the absence of widespread human disease
AU - Reynolds, Mary G.
AU - Carroll, Darin S.
AU - Olson, Victoria A.
AU - Hughes, Christine
AU - Galley, Jack
AU - Likos, Anna
AU - Montgomery, Joel M.
AU - Suu-Ire, Richard
AU - Kwasi, Mubarak O.
AU - Root, J. Jeffrey
AU - Braden, Zach
AU - Abel, Jason
AU - Clemmons, Cody
AU - Regnery, Russell
AU - Karem, Kevin
AU - Damon, Inger K.
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Human monkeypox has never been reported in Ghana, but rodents captured in forested areas of southern Ghana were the source of the monkeypox virus introduced into the United States in 2003. Subsequent to the outbreak in the United States, 204 animals were collected from two commercial trapping sites in Ghana. Animal tissues were examined for the presence of orthopoxvirus (OPXV) DNA using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, and sera were assayed for antibodies against OPXV. Animals from five genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, Funiscirus, and Heliosciurus) had antibodies against OPXV, and three genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, and Xerus) had evidence of OPXV DNA in tissues. AdditionaUy, 172 persons living near the trapping sites were interviewed regarding risk factors for OPXV exposure, and their sera were analyzed. Fifty-three percent had IgG against OPXV; none had IgM. Our findings suggest that several species of forest-dwelling rodents from Ghana are susceptible to naturally occurring OPXV infection, and that persons living near forests may have low-level or indirect exposure to OPXV-infected animals, possibly resulting in sub-clinical infections.
AB - Human monkeypox has never been reported in Ghana, but rodents captured in forested areas of southern Ghana were the source of the monkeypox virus introduced into the United States in 2003. Subsequent to the outbreak in the United States, 204 animals were collected from two commercial trapping sites in Ghana. Animal tissues were examined for the presence of orthopoxvirus (OPXV) DNA using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, and sera were assayed for antibodies against OPXV. Animals from five genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, Funiscirus, and Heliosciurus) had antibodies against OPXV, and three genera (Cricetomys, Graphiurus, and Xerus) had evidence of OPXV DNA in tissues. AdditionaUy, 172 persons living near the trapping sites were interviewed regarding risk factors for OPXV exposure, and their sera were analyzed. Fifty-three percent had IgG against OPXV; none had IgM. Our findings suggest that several species of forest-dwelling rodents from Ghana are susceptible to naturally occurring OPXV infection, and that persons living near forests may have low-level or indirect exposure to OPXV-infected animals, possibly resulting in sub-clinical infections.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950918585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0716
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0716
M3 - Article
C2 - 20348530
AN - SCOPUS:77950918585
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 82
SP - 746
EP - 754
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 4
ER -