Sensitivity of Different Animal Species to Monkeypox Virus

Studied is the sensitivity of different animal species (white mice, rabbits, mini-pigs, and marmots) to Monkeypox virus (MPXV). Determined is the fact that MPXV-sensitive are groundhogs (ID50 and LD50 5 lg of PFU in case of intranasal inoculation). The most pronounced clinical signs of the disease such as varioliform eruption all over body and mucous linings, purulent discharges out of nasal cavity, lymphadenitis, loss of coordination, tremor of extremities, fever, hyper-aggressiveness, disheveled hair have been registered in groundhogs. The highest viral loads in the majority of fallen marmots have been observed in nasal mucosa, trachea, lungs, and pock-marked skin (>6,0 lg PFU/g). The symptomatology of the disease in mice as compared to groundhogs is a bit milder: purulent conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and disheveled hair. As for mini-pigs and rabbits, no visual signs of the disease have been observed in them.