Kinetics of viral DNA in body fluids and antibody response in patients with acute Monkeypox virus infection

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106102
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01T01:46:25Z
• Authors: Francesca Colavita; Valentina Mazzotta; Gabriella Rozera; Isabella Abbate; Fabrizio Carletti; Carmela Pinnetti; Giulia Matusali; Silvia Meschi; Annalisa Mondi; Daniele Lapa; Serena Vita; Claudia Minosse; Camilla Aguglia; Roberta Gagliardini; Eliana Specchiarello; Aurora Bettini; Emanuele Nicastri; Enrico Girardi; Francesco Vaia; Andrea Antinori; Fabrizio Maggi
• Keywords: Viral Shedding; Medical microbiology; Antibody titer

We report the follow-up laboratory investigation of three MPXV cases infected in May-June 2022 from diagnosis to disease resolution, monitoring viral shedding different body fluids and antibody kinetics. Out 138 non-lesion samples, DNA was found 92.3% saliva, 85.7% semen, 86.2% oropharyngeal swabs, 51.7% plasma, 46.1% stool, 9.5% urine samples. Viral load quantified by digital PCR widely varied, but tend be higher stool. Replication competent virus recovered four out seventeen including 1 The analysis kinetics revealed that IgM, IgA, IgG antibodies were detected within two weeks post-symptoms onset for all patients, with early on at day 4-8 IgM IgA showing lower titers along time frame study. Antibody levels increased during second week illness reaching high titers.