ABSTRACT
Studies of B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) antibody in several species of macaque lead to the following generalizations. Newborn monkeys are not infected with B virus, even when born of seropositive mothers. Young monkeys remain uninfected until they become adults. The majority of adults develop B virus antibody unless their physical contact with seropositive adults is restricted. These observations are consistent with sexual transmission of B virus and classification of the disease in monkeys as venereal. However, infection at oral and dermal sites also occurs and may play a part in monkey-to-monkey transmission. Epizootics of B virus occurred during early attempts to start B virus-free breeding colonies. They appeared to originate from reactivated latent B virus in adult monkeys which had only low titres of antibody. The stress produced when groups of adult strangers were assembled to form breeding colonies was the most effective known inducer of latent B virus. Total exclusion of animals with any trace of antibody has enabled the establishment of new breeding colonies which are free from B virus.
Subject(s)
Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Macaca , Monkey Diseases/transmission , Age Factors , Animals , Animals, Laboratory , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Female , Genitalia/microbiology , Herpesviridae Infections/microbiology , Herpesviridae Infections/transmission , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/immunology , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/isolation & purification , Macaca fascicularis , Macaca mulatta , Male , Monkey Diseases/microbiology , Mouth/microbiology , Skin/microbiologyABSTRACT
3 different types of observation all demonstrated that B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) infection of monkeys was not confined to the mouth but was also a genital infection. (1) Latent B virus was reactivated in a seropositive female monkey, which was immunosuppressed with antilymphocyte globulin, and infectious virus was excreted in the genital tract. (2) During an epizootic in a breeding colony, B virus was isolated from 4 genital and 3 oral sites as well as from a skin lesion. (3) In cultures of sensory nerve ganglia taken from seropositive monkeys, B virus was recovered more frequently from ganglia subserving the genital region than the oral region.
Subject(s)
Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/physiology , Macaca fascicularis , Monkey Diseases/virology , Animals , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Female , Genitalia/virology , Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiology , Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/isolation & purification , Male , Monkey Diseases/epidemiology , Mouth/virology , Virus Latency , Virus SheddingABSTRACT
Neutralization tests used in one laboratory in the USA and one laboratory in England to detect antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae have been compared. Complete concordance in results was obtained with 53 (90%) of 59 monkey sera. The remaining six sera all had titers no greater than 1:3. Four were positive only in the American test, and two were positive only in the British test. The importance of using complement if maximum sensitivity is to be achieved in detecting antibodies to this virus has been confirmed.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Herpesviridae Infections/veterinary , Monkey Diseases/immunology , Neutralization Tests , Animals , Complement System Proteins , Herpesviridae Infections/immunology , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/immunology , Macaca mulatta , Neutralization Tests/methodsABSTRACT
Local infiltration of antiserum into sites inoculated with B virus protected rabbits from an otherwise fatal encephalomyelitis. Treatment was effective when delayed for six hours but not after 24 hours. Homologous rabbit antisera were more effective than heterologous monkey antisera, and protection was unrelated to neutralisation titres. Protection apparently depended not on neutralisation of inoculated virus but on destruction of infected cells before they produced progeny virus. Normal human immunoglobulin able to neutralise B virus did not protect. Intravenously administered antibody was effective only if large doses were given. The findings suggest that persons bitten or scratched by monkeys latently infected with B virus may be treated successfully by immunoprophylaxis with specific antibody. Stocks of human or of more readily available simian antisera should be held in laboratories where such animals are used.
Subject(s)
Encephalitis/prevention & control , Herpesviridae Infections/prevention & control , Immunization, Passive , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Encephalitis/immunology , Herpesviridae Infections/immunology , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine , Macaca fascicularis , RabbitsABSTRACT
The efficacy of the new nucleoside analogue acyclovir against B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) was investigated in rabbits and Vero cells infected with 2-136 and 0.3-1.0 TCD50 of the virus respectively. In the Vero cells 1 mg of acyclovir/1 reduced the yield of virus by 90%, which was slightly less than the effect on herpes simplex virus. Results in the rabbits varied with the interval between doses, duration of treatment, and delay before starting treatment. Acyclovir controlled an otherwise lethal infection when given not less than eight-hourly for 14 days. Withdrawing treatment after 9-10 days resulted in late-onset fatal disease in some rabbits. Treatment begun within 24 hours after infection gave complete protection, and rabbits first treated up to five days after infection showed a significant reduction in mortality (p less than 0.001). The plasma half life of acyclovir is twice as long in man as in rabbits and progression of the disease is much slower. Hence acyclovir may be useful for post-exposure prophylaxis against B virus infection in man and possibly also for treatment of the disease.
