Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 28, Number 10—October 2022
Research Letter

Introduction and Differential Diagnosis of Monkeypox in Argentina, 2022

Author affiliations: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, Buenos Aires, Argentina (A. Lewis, A. Josiowicz, S.M.H. Riade, M. Tous, D.M. Cisterna); Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA (G.P.)

Cite This Article

Abstract

We report detection of cases of monkeypox virus infection in Argentina in the context of a marked increase in confounding cases of atypical hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome caused by enterovirus coxsackie A6. We recommend performing an accurate differential virological diagnosis for exanthematous disease in suspected monkeypox cases.

Global surveillance of monkeypox cases has resulted in the detection of an increasing number of suspected cases in countries to which the disease is not endemic (1). We report the results of a virological investigation of 9 suspected cases of monkeypox from Argentina (n = 6) and Bolivia (n = 3) detected during May 22–June 8, 2022. The investigation was conducted using World Health Organization case definitions (2).

We attempted laboratory diagnosis for all 9 cases by using classical and molecular methods such as electron microscopy (EM) and conventional orthopoxvirus PCR. We analyzed swab samples collected from the skin, genital lesions, or both for monkeypox screening. We performed negative staining electron microscopy using direct absorption for 10 minutes of a 10-μL sample volume on fomvar-coated 400 mesh grids. We performed staining with 1% phosphotungstic acid (3) and examined samples using a Zeiss EM-109 transmission electron microscope.

We extracted viral nucleic acid by using the High Pure Viral RNA kit (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, https://www.roche.com) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We performed end-point PCR amplification by using primers EACP1 and EACP2 targeting the complete viral hemagglutinin gene, as done previously (4). We sequenced amplicon PCR fragments by using BigDye Terminator version 3.1 reagent in an ABI3500 Genetic Analyzer automatic sequencer (both ThermoFisher Scientific, https://www.thermofisher.com). We performed phylogenetic analysis by using the maximum-likelihood method and Tamuka 3-parameter model according to Modeltest using MEGA software (https://www.megasoftware.net). We produced bootstraps using 500 replicates. For differential diagnosis, we analyzed negative monkeypox virus (MPXV) samples by molecular methods for the detection of herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and enterovirus. We performed molecular typing of enteroviruses as previously reported (5).

The images obtained by EM in cases 1–3, all from Argentina, showed the presence of viral particles compatible with a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus (Appendix Figure 1). The phylogenetic analysis of the complete hemagglutinin genes for these viruses confirmed the identification of MPXV (West African clade) (Appendix Figure 2). Enterovirus was identified by PCR in 4 (66.7%) of the remaining 6 cases (2 from Argentina and 2 from Bolivia). Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) was identified in 3 of these 4 cases. CV-A6 is usually associated with atypical hand-foot-mouth syndrome. Finally, the 6 samples analyzed were negative for herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus. In summary, of the 9 cases from South America with exanthematic disease that fit the definition of suspected cases, 3 (33%) cases were confirmed for MPXV and 4 (44%) cases were differentially diagnosed as CV-A6 infections.

We evaluated the clinical manifestations of all 9 cases. In the 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of MPXV, clinical manifestations included pustular lesions of heterogeneous distribution in the body, multiple painful intergluteal and perianal lesions, and genital ulcers (Table). All 3 patients reported multiple sexual partners during the previous few weeks, 2 during international travel to Spain and 1 with international travelers from countries reporting cases. No patients experienced lymphadenopathy. Patients 1 and 3 were hospitalized briefly for pain management related to their symptoms.

The remaining 6 patients who were negative for orthopoxvirus displayed vesicular lesions in various stages on the palms, soles, and genital locations. Some reported travel from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Paraguay, or Spain.

The epidemiologic information we collected on these monkeypox cases, together with genetic analysis, confirm that they are directly related to outbreaks in several countries in Europe (6) and are not linked to previous introductions in the United States (7; C.M. Gigante et al., unpub. data, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.10.495526v1). Although 1 patient did not travel, he reported direct physical contact with persons who had traveled to countries with reported cases, revealing local community transmission.

Of note, South America is experiencing a marked increase in cases of atypical hand-foot-mouth syndrome caused by CV-A6 (8,9). Unlike the classic syndrome, this atypical variant also affects young adults and occurs in unusual regions of the body, including the genital areas, and could easily be confused with monkeypox. A wide case definition makes surveillance easier, but it also emphasizes the need to perform precise differential virological diagnosis for exanthematic disease in suspected cases.

In summary, we report 3 cases of monkeypox in patients in Argentina. Six additional patients in Argentina and Bolivia had monkeypox ruled out by differential diagnosis; 4 of those cases were atypical hand-foot-mouth syndrome caused by CV-A6. We recommend considering virological diagnosis of this disease in suspected cases of monkeypox. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility for misdiagnosis related to these viral infections.

Dr. Lewis is head of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory in the Virology Department, INEI- ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran.” His primary research focus is poxvirus virology and emerging virus surveillance.

Top

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Ministry of Health of Argentina as part of the surveillance program for monkeypox virus.

Top

References

  1. Bunge  EM, Hoet  B, Chen  L, Lienert  F, Weidenthaler  H, Baer  LR, et al. The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox-A potential threat? A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;16:e0010141. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. Argentina Ministry of Health. Data collection tabs for notification [in Spanish]. 2022 [cited 2022 Jun 22]. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/epidemiologia/fichas
  3. Laue  M, Bannert  N. Detection limit of negative staining electron microscopy for the diagnosis of bioterrorism-related micro-organisms. J Appl Microbiol. 2010;109:115968. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Ropp  SL, Jin  Q, Knight  JC, Massung  RF, Esposito  JJ. PCR strategy for identification and differentiation of small pox and other orthopoxviruses. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33:206976. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. Cisterna  DM, Lema  CL, Martinez  LM, Verón  E, Contarino  LP, Acosta  D, et al. Atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by Coxsackievirus A6 in Argentina in 2015. Rev Argent Microbiol. 2019;51:1403. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. Perez Duque  M, Ribeiro  S, Martins  JV, Casaca  P, Leite  PP, Tavares  M, et al. Ongoing monkeypox virus outbreak, Portugal, 29 April to 23 May 2022. Euro Surveill. 2022;27.
  7. Antinori  A, Mazzotta  V, Vita  S, Carletti  F, Tacconi  D, Lapini  LE, et al.; INMI Monkeypox Group. Epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of four cases of monkeypox support transmission through sexual contact, Italy, May 2022. Euro Surveill. 2022;27:27. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. Lizasoain  A, Piegas  S, Victoria  M, Da Silva  EE, Colina  R. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease in uruguay: Coxsackievirus A6 identified as causative of an outbreak in a rural childcare center. J Med Virol. 2020;92:16773. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. Luchs  A, Azevedo  LS, Souza  EV, Medeiros  RS, Souza  YFVP, Teixeira  DLF, et al. Coxsackievirus A6 strains causing an outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Northeastern Brazil in 2018. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo. 2022;64:e16. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar

Top

Table

Top

Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid2810.221075

Original Publication Date: August 12, 2022

1These authors were co–principal investigators.

Table of Contents – Volume 28, Number 10—October 2022

EID Search Options
presentation_01 Advanced Article Search – Search articles by author and/or keyword.
presentation_01 Articles by Country Search – Search articles by the topic country.
presentation_01 Article Type Search – Search articles by article type and issue.

Top

Comments

Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Daniel M. Cisterna, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS, “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran,” Av. Velez Sarsfield 563 (1282AFF), Buenos Aires, Argentina

Send To

10000 character(s) remaining.

Top

Page created: August 02, 2022
Page updated: September 21, 2022
Page reviewed: September 21, 2022
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external