No evidence of asymptomatic monkeypox infection in a highly sexually active MSM population in Austria

Abstract

BackgroundThe 2022 outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) revealed new transmission routes. Incidence declined sharply in September 2022, and it remains unclear whether MPXV is circulating in asymptomatic individuals because of increased immunity.ObjectivesOur study aimed to assesss the number of asymtomatic MPXV carriers in individuals at high risk for STI.MethodsWe analysed anal samples from asymptomatic highly sexually active men who have sex with men for the presence of MPXV.ResultsWe detected a high number of concomitant sexually transmitted infections but did not find a single sample with MPXV.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the general recommendation to implement screening for MPXV is not currently justified.

Prevention of sexual transmission of mpox: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis of approaches

“…Four studies assessed samples from multiple clinics across a city or region [ 25 , 27 , 29 , 31 ]; six were in single clinical sites [ 19–22 , 24 , 28 ], and two in community centres [ 23 , 26 ]. One study from Vietnam was conducted within an HIV PrEP program [ 30 ].…”

“…One study from Vietnam was conducted within an HIV PrEP program [ 30 ]. Seven [ 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 28–30 ] were retrospective, observational studies that examined stored samples taken for testing for sexually transmitted infections.…”

“…Four studies [ 21 , 24 , 26 , 30 ] did not identify any MPXV-positive cases, and seven studies [ 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 27 , 31 ] reported prevalence in their respective study populations (range 0.17%–6.5%). Several studies identified presymptomatic and asymptomatic infection: Mizushima et al.…”