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Volume 32, Number 10—October 2026

Research

Meta-analysis of Asymptomatic Monkeypox Virus Prevalence in Nonendemic Regions, 2022–2024

Kelsey J. MacCuish, Robert Snyder, Kelly A. Johnson, Edwin Chojolan, Awa Keinde, Kathleen Jacobson, and Kayla SaadehComments to Author 
Author affiliation: California Department of Public Health Office of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Hepatitis C Virus, Richmond, California, USA (K.J. MacCuish, R. Snyder, K.A. Johnson, E. Chojolan, A. Keinde, K. Jacobson, K. Saadeh); University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA (K.A. Johnson)

Main Article

Table 1

Summary of studies included in meta-analysis of prevalence of asymptomatic MPXV detections in nonendemic regions*

Authors and year (reference) Study design Country Sampling dates Recruitment sites Specimen type No. (%) men Asymptomatic MPXV detections Sample size
Agusti et al. 2023 (16)
 Cross-sectional
 Spain
 2022 Aug–2022 Oct
 Community center
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs
 89 (78.8)
 7
 113
De Baetselier et al. 2022 (11)
 Retrospective cohort
 Belgium
 2022 Jan–2022 May
 Sexual health clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs
 224 (100)
 3
 224
Brosius et al. 2023 (17)
 Prospective cohort
 Belgium
 2022 Jun–2022 Jul
 Sexual health clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, blood
 24 (96.0)
 2
 25
Contag et al. 2023 (18)
 Retrospective cohort
 USA
 2022 Apr–2022 Sep
 Public hospital and clinic system
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, urine
4
 1,645
Ferre et al. 2022 (10)
 Retrospective cohort
 France
 2022 Jun–2022 Jul
 Sexual health clinic
 Anal swabs, urine
 200 (100)
 11
 200
Golden et al. 2024 (19)
 Prospective cohort
 USA
 2022 May–2023 May
 Sexual health clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs
 1,586 (93.9)
 18
 1,689
Grabmeier-Pfistershammer et al. 2024 (4)
 Retrospective cohort
 Austria
 2023 Jan–2023 Mar
 Sexual health clinic
 Anal swabs
 90 (100)
 0
 90
Hampel et al. 2023 (20)
 Prospective cohort
 Switzerland
 2022 Aug–2022 Oct
 SwissPrEPared program
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs
 198 (98.5)
 1
 201
Koppe et al. 2024 (21)
 Cross-sectional
 Germany
 2022 Apr–2023 Oct
 Community center
 Anal swabs, urethral swabs
75
 6,600
Mizushima et al. 2023 (22)
 Prospective cohort
 Japan
 2023 Jan–2023 Mar
 Unknown
 Anal swabs, urine
 1,346 (100)
 3
 1,346
Ogale et al. 2023 (23)
 Prospective cohort
 USA
 2022 Aug
 Health clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, blood
 359 (66.1)
 2
 543
Pestel et al. 2022 (5)
 Prospective cohort
 Germany
 2022 Jun–2022 Jul
 Infectious disease clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs
 53 (100)
 0
 53
Pitt-Kendall et al. 2023 (9)
 Retrospective cohort
 England
 2022 Aug–2022 Oct
 Sexual health clinic
 Pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, urine
 1,159 (100)
 2
 1,159
Rossotti et al. 2023 (6)
 Prospective cohort
 Italy
 2022 Sep–2022 Oct
 Sexual health clinic
 Pharyngeal and anal swabs
 72 (100)
 0
 72
Thomassen et al. 2024 (7)
 Prospective cohort
 Denmark
 2022 Sep–2022 Oct
 Danish PrEP database
 Anal swabs
 224 (100)
 0
 224
Van Dijck et al. 2023 (8) Mixed cohort Belgium 2022 Jun–2022 Sep Sexual health clinic Anal swabs 327 (100) 0 327

*MPXV, monkeypox virus; PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis.

Main Article

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Page created: August 05, 2026
Page updated: September 16, 2026
Page reviewed: September 16, 2026
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