Monkeypox challenge of rope squirrels: data

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a zoonotic disease endemic in Central and West Africa and is the most virulent orthopoxvirus affecting humans since the eradication of variola virus (VARV). In order to assess their reservoir potential, wild-caught rope squirrels were experimentally infected via intranasal and intradermal exposure with a recombinant MPXV strain from Central Africa engineered to express the luciferase gene. After infection, we monitored viral replication via in vivo bioluminescent imaging and viral shedding via culture and PCR. MPXV infection in African rope squirrels caused mortality and moderate to severe morbidity, with clinical signs including pox lesions in the skin, eyes, mouth and nose, dyspnea, and profuse nasal discharge. Both intranasal and intradermal exposures induced high levels of viremia, fast systemic spread, and long periods of viral shedding. Shedding and luminescence peaked at day 6 post infection and was still detectable after 15 days. Evidence of viral persistence in tissues by real-time PCR was observed in animals that survived infection. Interestingly, one sentinel animal, housed in the same room but in a separate cage, also developed severe MPX disease and was euthanized. This study highlights the epidemiological importance of African rope squirrels and suggests the potential role of this rodent species as a natural reservoir host of MPXV and a source of direct transmission to humans and other animals in endemic MPX regions.猴痘病毒（Monkeypox virus, MPXV）是一种在中非和西非地区地方性流行的人畜共患病原体，亦是自天花病毒（variola virus, VARV）被根除以来对人类致病性最强的正痘病毒。为评估其潜在储存宿主能力，研究人员对野外捕获的绳松鼠通过经鼻内与皮内两种暴露途径，接种了一株源自中非、经基因改造以表达荧光素酶基因的重组MPXV毒株。感染后，研究团队通过活体生物发光成像监测病毒复制情况，并通过病毒培养和聚合酶链式反应（PCR）检测病毒排毒情况。非洲绳松鼠感染MPXV后可出现死亡及中度至重度发病症状，临床表征包括皮肤、眼部、口腔及鼻部的痘疹病变、呼吸困难以及大量鼻腔分泌物。经鼻内与皮内两种暴露途径均能诱导高水平病毒血症、快速全身播散以及长时间的病毒排毒。病毒排毒水平与生物发光信号均在感染后第6天达到峰值，并在感染后15天仍可被检测到。在感染后存活的动物组织中，通过实时聚合酶链式反应（real-time PCR）仍可检测到病毒持续存在的证据。值得注意的是，同一饲养室内单独笼养的一只哨兵动物也出现了重度猴痘病症并被实施安乐死。本研究凸显了非洲绳松鼠的流行病学重要性，表明该啮齿类物种有可能作为MPXV的自然储存宿主，同时也是猴痘地方性流行区域内人类与其他动物的直接传染源。