The evolving monkeypox outbreak amongst homosexual and bisexual transmission: A systematic review

Abstract

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease. It has evolved into human-to-human transmission with similar characteristics to smallpox. In contrast with the previous endemic outbreak, this 2022 multinational outbreak found numerous data of different skin lesions, predilections and populations. Furthermore, recent findings regarding monkeypox revealed the possibility of sexual transmission. As a basis for future monkeypox diagnosis guidelines, providing comprehensive data on the symptoms, predilections, age at presentation, previous history of sexual activities, comorbidities, range of incubation period from the time of sexual activity until the symptoms occurred, as criteria for diagnosis of sexual transmitted disease. We performed a comprehensive research on the outbreak of monkeypox disease in 2022 regarding the route of transmission from inception up until September 2022. There were 1310 patients from 10 studies who had monkeypox disease in 2022. Patients were mostly found in European countries, with average aged in their 30s, and were 99.54% male. Vesiculopustular lesions and ulcers with central umbilication that appeared prior to prodromal signs were characteristic. Approximately 90% were transmitted during sexual intercourse and in the  homosexual group (MSM/ Men who have sex with men), and 5-10% between bisexuals. Approximately 40.84% cases also had HIV as a comorbid disease and 15.42% had concurrent or history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes simplex, mixed, and other STIs. Homosexual and bisexual populations we are the most high risk populations in the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox disease. The epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and type of skin lesion were different from the previous outbreak. The findings in this review may supplement information to further establish clinical guidelines on the new presentation of monkeypox disease. Further large-scale studies are necessary to further describe and verify the data with higher levels of evidence.