Can Acanthamoeba help Monkeypox (Mpox) virus spread?

Medical News: Acanthamoeba, a common microorganism found in various environments, is known to host a range of other organisms, including viruses and bacteria. Recently, scientists have begun to explore whether it could play a role in the transmission of the monkeypox virus, especially given the virus's global spread and resurgence. This Medical News report will dive into the findings from a recent study conducted by researchers from American University of Sharjah-UAE, Istinye University-Turkey, University of Sharjah-UAE, Taif University-Saudia Arabia, and Al-Baha University-Saudi Arabia. Their research looks into whether Acanthamoeba can harbor the monkeypox virus and what this means for public health.

Amoebae may be aiding monkeypox virus in the environmental survival and/or transmission to susceptible hosts. Primary hosts, such as rodents, and incidental hosts, such as monkeys and dogs, shed the monkeypox virus in their bodily secretions. Amoebae in the environment harbor the virus and carry it to the human host. Later, the human host releases more virus into the environment, which is taken up by the amoebae acting as a Trojan horse and facilitating much faster and broader community transmission.

Background on Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a viral disease that has gained significant attention recently, with over 85,000 cases reported worldwide since February 2023. The disease, caused by the Orthopoxvirus, is primarily found in Africa but has seen sporadic outbreaks across the globe. Initially, the spread of the virus outside of Africa was linked to travel and imported animals, but cases have been rising even in countries without these travel links.
 
Clinical symptoms of monkeypox resemble those of smallpox and include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that often appears on the face, arms, or legs. With an incubation period of up to 20 days, this viral disease poses challenges for containment.
 
What Is Acanthamoeba?
Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that thrives in various environments like soil, water, and air. It is considered one of the most common microorganisms and is often found in places like swimming pools, air-conditioning units, and even bottled water. Researchers have long known that Acanthamoeba can host a wide variety of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, acting as a 'Trojan horse' for these microorganisms.
 
In previous studies, Acanthamoeba was found to harbor Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease, and mimivirus, another double-stranded DNA virus. Given this ability to carry and protect other pathogens, the recent research explores whether Acanthamoeba could similarly host the monkeypox virus, aiding its survival in the environment.
 
Can Acanthamoeba Harbor Monkeypox?
The question at the heart of this study is whether Acanthamoeba can provide a safe environment for the monkeypox virus to survive and potentially increase its transmission to humans. Although there is no direct evidence to confirm that Acanthamoeba can harbor the monkeypox virus, researchers point to the discovery of other double-stranded DNA viruses, like mimivirus, in Acanthamoeba as a reason to investigate this further. The survival of Acanthamoeba under extreme environmental conditions, including exposure to chemicals and radiological threats, could provide an ideal shelter for the virus.
 
The study highlights that Acanthamoeba forms cysts that can become airborne and travel long distances while carrying other microorganisms. The cysts are resistant to environmental changes, which raises concerns that they might act as a vector for monkeypox virus transmission, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
 
Monkeypox Epidemiology and the Role of Amoebae
The global rise of monkeypox cases has prompted researchers to explore different pathways of virus transmission. Since Acanthamoeba is found in almost every environment imaginable, from soil to bottled water, it’s possible that the amoeba could act as a reservoir or even a vector for monkeypox transmission. If Acanthamoeba were to harbor monkeypox, the transmission cycle could look something like this: animals or humans shed the virus into the environment, where it is picked up by amoebae. These amoebae, protected by their cysts, could then spread the virus more widely and more quickly.
 
Training Ground for Pathogens
Acanthamoeba is often referred to as a "training ground" for pathogens. This is because the amoeba’s ability to protect and nurture microorganisms helps these pathogens develop resistance to harsh conditions. For example, pathogens that survive inside Acanthamoeba can often withstand the defenses of human immune systems. If monkeypox were able to use Acanthamoeba as a host, it could potentially become more resilient and harder to eliminate, much like how Legionella bacteria thrive in amoebae.
 
In this way, Acanthamoeba could act as a "Trojan horse," providing shelter for the monkeypox virus to evade external threats like disinfectants or immune responses. This hypothesis makes the case for more research to explore the symbiotic relationship between Acanthamoeba and viruses like monkeypox.
 
The "One Health" Approach
The study’s findings emphasize the importance of the "One Health" approach, which considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. In the case of monkeypox, this means looking beyond just human-to-human transmission and considering how animals and the environment may also play a role in spreading the virus.
 
For example, during the 2003 monkeypox outbreak in the United States, patients contracted the virus after coming into contact with infected prairie dogs. It's likely that these animals came into contact with Acanthamoeba in the environment, which could have been carrying the virus. Understanding how Acanthamoeba fits into this complex transmission network is key to developing better strategies for preventing future outbreaks.
 
Potential Impact on Public Health
The possibility that Acanthamoeba could harbor monkeypox raises significant public health concerns. If proven, it could complicate efforts to contain the virus, as Acanthamoeba is not easily eradicated from the environment. The amoeba’s cysts are highly resistant to most common disinfectants, meaning that typical sanitation methods may not be enough to prevent the spread of monkeypox.

Moreover, if Acanthamoeba is indeed acting as a reservoir for monkeypox, it could help the virus persist in the environment even after human cases have been controlled, leading to re-emergence at unexpected times and places.
 
Future Directions and Conclusions
The study suggests that more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between Acanthamoeba and the monkeypox virus. If future studies confirm that Acanthamoeba can indeed harbor the virus, new public health strategies will need to be developed. This could include creating new disinfectants that can target both the amoeba and the virus or improving environmental monitoring to detect the presence of pathogen-carrying amoebae.
 
In conclusion, while the idea that Acanthamoeba could aid the transmission of monkeypox remains speculative, it’s a hypothesis worth investigating. A better understanding of how the virus survives in the environment could lead to more effective methods of controlling its spread.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Microorganisms.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/855
 
For the latest Mpox News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/could-arthropods-be-the-unexpected-reservoirs-of-the-2022-and-2024-mpox-outbreaks
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-study-reveals-monkeypox-mpox-virus-may-persist-at-oral-and-rectal-sites-after-recovery
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-study-reveals-monkeypox-mpox-virus-may-persist-at-oral-and-rectal-sites-after-recovery