A new study from Barcelona has detected monkeypox virus DNA in the saliva of all patients with acute monkeypox infection. The study published in the journal Eurosurveillance examined 147 different biological samples, including saliva and semen, for viral DNA from 12 patients with confirmed monkeypox infection by RT PCR.¹

All skin lesions showed high viral DNA load. The viral DNA was detected from saliva samples of all the 12 patients included in the study. In one patient, the viral DNA was present up to 2 weeks after the symptoms appeared, while some saliva samples contained high viral loads.

In addition, in 11 patients, the rectal samples were positive for viral DNA, while 7 of 9 semen samples, 10 of 12 nasopharyngeal samples, 9 of 12 urine samples and 8 out of 12 fecal samples also showed the presence of viral DNA.

This study highlights the presence of viral DNA in different biological samples indicative of viral shedding, especially in the saliva during the acute phase of the infection suggesting their potential infectiousness and further disease transmission. However, the study authors also say that “further research on the infectious potential of these bodily fluids and their potential role in disease transmission by close physical contact during sexual activity is warranted”.

Reference

1. Aida Peiró-Mestres, et al. Frequent detection of monkeypox virus DNA in saliva, semen, and other clinical samples from 12 patients, Barcelona, Spain, May to June 2022. Euro Surveill. 2022 Jul;27(28). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.28.2200503.