First Human Infection Case of Monkey B Virus Identified in China, 2021

Abstract

Monkey B virus (BV), initially isolated in 1932, is currently designated as Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (1). BV is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in macaques of the genus Macaca, normally transmitted horizontally via direct contact and exchange of bodily secretions, just like herpes simplex virus (HSV) in humans. BV is not evident in its natural macaque hosts, but about 60 additional cases of pathogenic zoonotic BV infection have occurred sporadically and the fatality rate of zoonotic BV infections is 70%-80%. Although the risk for secondary transmission appears to be minimal, one case of human-to-human transmission of herpes B virus has previously been documented (2). Zoonotic BV infections have mainly involved primate veterinarians, animal care personnel, or laboratory researchers in North America. However, there were no fatal or even clinically evident BV infections in China before 2021. Here, we reported the first human infection case with BV identified in China.This case of BV occurred in a veterinary surgeon (53 years old, male) who worked in an institute specialized in nonhuman primate breeding and experimental research in Beijing. He dissected two dead monkeys on March 4 and 6, 2021 and experienced nausea and vomiting followed by fever with neurological symptoms one month later. As a result, the patient visited doctor in several hospitals but eventually died on May 27.On April 17, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from this patient for next generation sequencing (NGS), 285 reads obtained suggesting possible alphaherpesvirus infection. To further identify the etiological agent, several specimens (including CSF, blister fluid, blood, airway aspirates, nasal swab, throat swab, and plasma) were collected from this patient and 2 close contacts (1 doctor, 47 years old, male; 1 nurse, 25 years old, female), then sent to National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (IVDC) of China CDC on April 19. Four sets of real-time

Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (B Virus) Infection in Humans, Japan, 2019

“…Nucleotide sequence analysis identified B virus genotypes known to be carried by the macaque species ( 7 , 8 ). Recently, a case of human B virus infection was identified in China; however, the genotype was not identified ( 3 ). Phylogenetic analysis of the gB gene indicated that B virus from the 2 patients in Japan clustered with the genotype in rhesus macaques ( Figure 2 ).…”

Epidemiological Survey and Risk Factor Analysis of 14 Potential Pathogens in Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys at Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China

“…Human zoonotic cases of MaHV-1 have been reported in China and other countries. At least 50 people have been infected and 21 of them died [ 52 ]. The infected humans were veterinarians, monkey care personnel, or laboratory workers conducting research on monkeys; for example, the Chinese case involved a veterinary surgeon who dissected two dead monkeys and was infected with MaHV-1 [ 52 ].…”

“…At least 50 people have been infected and 21 of them died [ 52 ]. The infected humans were veterinarians, monkey care personnel, or laboratory workers conducting research on monkeys; for example, the Chinese case involved a veterinary surgeon who dissected two dead monkeys and was infected with MaHV-1 [ 52 ]. In this study, MaHV-1 had an overall real seroprevalence of 57.7% (95% CI: 36.9, 76.6), which is similar to the 52.6% MaHV-1 seroprevalence in golden snub-nosed monkey reported in 1993 [ 53 ]; it is slightly higher than the seroprevalence of MaHV-1 reported in long-tailed macaques (39%) [ 54 ] and rhesus macaques (25.8% in the USA and 45% in Brazil) [ 55 , 56 ].…”

A Review on Zoonotic Pathogens Associated with Non-Human Primates: Understanding the Potential Threats to Humans

“…Although progress in the research of the SCMV model has been achieved, there is no approved vaccine for HCMV or SCMV. Dennis et al tested the following two vaccine strategies that may have synergistic effects in reducing the rate of horizontal SCMV transmission: (i) vaccination with recombinant glycoprotein B to interfere with mucosal SCMV acquisition and (ii) vaccination with recombinant viral interleukin-10 to reduce viral shedding [ 47 ]. Although most wild and captive rhesus macaques are SCMV-seropositive, the natural history of the viral acquisition remains unclear.…”