Lymphocryptoviruses

Molecular Detection and Genetic Diversity of Cytomegaloviruses and Lymphocryptoviruses in Free-Roaming and Captive African Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)

“…Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs, genus Cytomegalovirus , subfamily Betaherpesvirinae ) and lymphocryptoviruses (LCVs, genus Lymphocryptovirus , subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae ) are double-stranded DNA viruses (genome size of ~196–241 kbp and ~149–171 kbp, respectively) within the family Orthoherpesviridae [ 1 ]. Based on virus isolation, serological and molecular studies, CMVs and LCVs have been reported in a wide variety of Old World monkeys (OWM) and New World monkeys (NWM) and are considered to be ubiquitous in non-human primate (NHP) populations [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, many of these reports were from captive NHPs, whilst limited information is available on the molecular epidemiology of CMV and LCV in wild NHPs [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…Based on virus isolation, serological and molecular studies, CMVs and LCVs have been reported in a wide variety of Old World monkeys (OWM) and New World monkeys (NWM) and are considered to be ubiquitous in non-human primate (NHP) populations [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. However, many of these reports were from captive NHPs, whilst limited information is available on the molecular epidemiology of CMV and LCV in wild NHPs [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. To date, 10 of the 11 recognized species within the genus Cytomegalovirus and 8 of the 9 recognized species within the genus Lymphocryptovirus are represented by simian herpesviruses [ 1 ].…”

“…In addition, partial sequences of several CMVs and LCVs from various NHPs have been designated as unclassified CMV/LCV viruses within the respective genera [ 1 , 12 , 13 ]. Although CMVs and LCVs have been shown to cause asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent NHPs, they have been associated with clinical conditions in immunosuppressed animals, such as CMV-associated necrotizing enteritis, encephalitis, lymphadenitis and/or pneumonitis and LCV-associated lymphomas and proliferative squamous epithelial lesions (resembling oral hairy leukoplakia in humans) in immunosuppressed macaques [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…AGMs are native to Western parts of Africa and were introduced in the Caribbean islands during the 1600s [ 27 , 28 ]. Although members of the species Chlorocebus aethiops (related to C. sabaeus ) have also been referred to as AGMs in previous publications on simian herpesviruses ([ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and several others), taxonomically, these NHPs are commonly known as grivet monkeys [ 29 ]. To date, limited information is available on the prevalence and genetic make-up/diversity of CMV and LCV in AGMs and other Chlorocebus monkeys [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…However, the isolation of the first LCV from Chlorocebus monkeys (from lymphoblasts of a grivet monkey) was reported in 1980 [ 38 ]. Since then, not much is known about LCVs in Chlorocebus monkeys [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], except for a few LCV DPOL sequences (222 bp) from illegally imported body parts (bone marrow and trachea) of AGMs [ 39 ] and the DPOL sequences (175 bp) of two unclassified LCV strains from grivet monkeys [ 19 ].…”