Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of monkeypox (mpox): current status and future directions

Ribeiro da Silva, S. J., Kohl, A. , Pena, L. and Pardee, K. (2023) Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of monkeypox (mpox): current status and future directions. iScience, 26(6), 106759. (doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106759) (PMID:37206155) (PMCID:PMC10183700)

Abstract

The emergence and rapid spread outside of monkeypox virus (MPXV) to non-endemic countries has brought this once obscure pathogen to the forefront of global public health. Given the range of conditions that cause skin lesions, and because clinical manifestation may more often be atypical in the current mpox outbreak, it can be challenging to diagnose patients based on clinical signs and symptoms, especially for individuals with an atypical clinical presentation. With this perspective in mind, the laboratory-based diagnosis assumes a critical role for the clinical management and the implementation of countermeasures. Here we review the clinical features reported in mpox patients and currently available laboratory tests that are used for mpox diagnosis, discussing their principles, advances, advantages, and drawbacks. We also highlight the diagnostic platforms with the potential of application that guide the field’s ongoing and future work, particularly to increase diagnostic capacity in low- and middle-income countries. With the outlook of this evolving research area, we hope to inspire more research and development of diagnostic alternatives to better prepare our society for dealing with future public health crises.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by CIHR Canada Research Chair Program (950-231075) to K.P. and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (Grant No.109434-001) through the Canadian 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Research Funding Opportunity to K.P. L.P. is funded by the Fiocruz Inova Program and the Foundation for Science and Technology of Pernambuco – FACEPE, Brazil570Journal Pre-proof (Grant No. APQ-0560-2.12/19). A.K. is funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12014/8). S.J.R.d.S. is supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship sponsored by the University of Toronto, Canada.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kohl, Professor Alain
• Authors: Ribeiro da Silva, S. J., Kohl, A., Pena, L., and Pardee, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: iScience
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press)
• ISSN: 2589-0042
• ISSN (Online): 2589-0042
• Published Online: 26 April 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in iScience 26(6): 106759
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
172630007		Arthropod-borne infections and emerging virus infections in high risk areas (Programme 4)	Alain Kohl	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12014/8	III - Centre for Virus Research