Biology subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Ochwoto, M..
We compared clinical disease, virus shedding and dissemination following genital MPXV clade Ia and Ib infections in Mastomys natalensis. MPXV clade Ib resulted in a milder clinical disease but a similar shedding profile to clade Ia. These findings indicate a prolonged pre-symptomatic or prodromal shedding period in clade Ib infections.
The transmission pattern of mpox has shifted from sporadic zoonotic outbreaks to sustained human-to-human spread. Epidemiological data indicate sexual contact as a crucial driver for efficient transmission and the associated devastating mpox outbreaks in recent years. However, our understanding of exact driving factors and transmission determinants is still limited. Here, we investigated MPXV clade Ia virus pathogenicity, shedding kinetics, and transmission potential in a prairie dog model (Cynomys ludovicianus). All tested mucosal inoculation routes (penile/preputial, vaginal, rectal, intranasal) resulted in a productive, systemic infection. Inoculation via urogenital routes generated the highest virus shedding and most severe clinical disease. A simulated sexual contact transmission resulted in 100% transmission efficiency with high virus shedding in sentinels on day 1, even before the onset of clinical signs. Our findings provide critical insights into mpox transmission, emphasizing the role of anogenital mucosal surfaces in facilitating rapid spread. These results advocate for a stronger focus on mucosal infection when evaluating countermeasures.
H5N1 influenza outbreaks in dairy cows necessitate studying potential transmission routes among livestock and to humans. We measured the stability of infectious H5N1 influenza virus in raw milk, wastewater, and on contaminated surfaces. We found relatively slow decay in milk, indicating that contaminated milk and fomites pose plausible transmission risks.