Fig. 3.
Quantitation of viral DNA in secretions from prairie dogs infected with MPXV. Early treatment with ST-246 greatly reduces MPXV DNA in secretions. Prairie dogs were infected on day 0 with 3.8 × 105 PFU, and swab samples were collected every 2 days over a period of 30 days. Animals began receiving vehicle alone on day 3 (A, B, and C) or ST-246 at rash onset (D, E, and F), on day 0 (G, H, and I), or on day 3 (J, K, and L). DNA was extracted from oral swabs (A, D, G, and J), ocular swabs (B, E, H, and K), and anal swabs (C, F, I, and L). The E9L gene was amplified and quantitated by real-time PCR. Average values of genome copies per milliliter and standard deviations were plotted on a log scale as a function of day postinfection (A, B, C, G, H, I, J, K, and L) or day post-rash onset (D, E, and F).