Characterization of monkeypox virus circulation and transmission from wildlife to humans in Africa and identification of wildlife species at elevated risk for infection in Canada

Recent outbreaks of emerging viruses, including monkeypox virus, have had severe public health and economic impacts across the globe. Monkyepox virus is a neglected emerging virus that can cause severe illness in humans and is endemic in numerous countries across Central and West Africa. Further, the frequency of monkeypox virus outbreaks has been increasing for many years and the ongoing global outbreak of this virus, as well as the 2003 outbreak in the midwestern United States, demonstrates the importance of understanding how increase preparedness and response activities in endemic and non-endemic regions across the world. However, there are critical knowledge gaps regarding the potential impacts of these viruses on wildlife and agricultural species. While prior observations have suggested that rodents are a likely reservoir for MPXV in endemic regions, there is little data implicating specific species. Further, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding the potential impacts of MPXV transmission on wildlife and agricultural species in non-endemic regions or for reservoir establishment. Here, we propose to investigate monkeypox virus circulation within wildlife in endemic regions as well as surrounding areas in Africa. Further, we will also assess the potential impact of monkeypox virus on Canadian wildlife species. Findings from this work will have important impacts on disease surveillance and containment strategies in endemic regions. Importantly, they will inform national monkeypox virus surveillance strategies and reduce the public health, wildlife, agricultural and economic risks for Canadians associated with emerging zoonotic viruses.