Scientists have identified a common forest antelope, the duiker, as a possible hidden link in the spread of mpox, warning that the widely consumed bushmeat animal may expose humans to the virus.
“Our results suggest that duikers are a previously overlooked intermediate host for mpox and other orthopoxviruses,” authors wrote in a new study posted on Research Square.
The findings shed new light on how mpox — formerly known as monkeypox — moves from wildlife to humans, as outbreaks continue to be reported across Central and West Africa.
“Frequent spillover of mpox from animals to humans appears to be increasing,” the study authors wrote, stressing that understanding the source of these infections is key to preventing future epidemics.
Duikers, small antelopes commonly found in African forests, are among the most traded animals in bushmeat markets. Researchers detected mpox and related viruses in duiker meat and carcasses collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire.
“We show that wild duikers are infected with mpox virus in both Central and West Africa,” they added.
The discovery is particularly concerning because duikers are widely hunted and eaten. “Duikers, which are widely consumed as bushmeat, may represent an underappreciated source of human exposure to mpox,” the researchers warned.
The study also highlights the risks linked to the bushmeat trade. “Bushmeat trade could be an important route through which humans are exposed to poxviruses, including mpox,” it said.
While duikers are generally thought to eat plants, scientists found they sometimes scavenge on other animals, including rodents and primates — species already suspected of carrying the virus.
This feeding habit may allow the animals to pick up infections and pass them along the chain — to other wildlife or humans. Researchers say this could help explain past outbreaks, including among chimpanzees.
“Our findings support a link between duiker consumption and mpox outbreaks in chimpanzees,” the study noted.
The research challenges long-held assumptions that rodents are the main source of mpox in the wild, suggesting the role of other animals has been underestimated.
“These animals have largely been overlooked as potential sources of zoonotic diseases,” the researchers said.
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