Naturally occurring fatal herpes simplex virus 1 infection in a family of white‐faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia pithecia)

Abstract

A family of three white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia pithecia) died 48-96 hours after the onset of anorexia, nasal discharge, pyrexia and oral ulceration. One animal also had clonic seizures. Lesions found post-mortem consisted of oral and esophageal ulcers, hepatic and intestinal necrosis, meningoencephalitis and sporadic neuronal necrosis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies and syncytial cells were present in oral lesions and affected areas of liver. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) was identified as the etiology of disease by virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction, or in situ hybridization in all three animals. Immunohistochemistry for detection of apoptotic DNA and activated caspase-3 showed significant levels of apoptosis in oral and liver lesions and occasional apoptotic neurons in the brain. These findings demonstrate the vulnerability of white-faced saki monkeys to HSV-1 and provide initial insight into the pathogenesis of fatal HSV-1-induced disease, indicating that apoptosis plays a significant role in cell death.

Fatal Human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) infection in captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix penicillata) in Brazil: clinical and pathological characterization

“…Similarly, HHV-1 and HHV-2 can cause the same lesions in other New World primate species, such as the owl monkey (Gozalo et al 2008, Melendez et al 1969) and the white-faced Saki (Schrenzel et al 2003). In humans and Old World primates these viruses commonly produce herpetic lesion with neurological signs in immunosuppressed (Smith et al 1969, Whitley & Kimberlin 2005 or young subjects (Heldstab et al 1981, Whitley & Kimberlin 2005.…”

“…Based on the epidemiology of the cases in this study, it was verified that Neotropical primates are highly susceptible to HHV-1 (Melendez et al 1969, Murphy et al 1972, Bruno et al 1997, Juan-Sallés et al 1997, Huemer et al 2002, Matz--Rensing et al 2003, Schrenzel et al 2003, Hatt et al 2004, Lefaux et al 2004, Gozalo et al 2008, Longa et al 2011. This virus causes an acute and fatal disease in marmosets, characterized by multiple skin vesicles and ulcers as well as severe necrotizing meningoencephalitis (Juan-Sallés et al 1997, Hatt et al 2004, Lefaux et al 2004, Longa et al 2011.…”

“…Infection has been described in owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus and A. nancymae) (Melendez et al 1969, Gozalo et al 2008, white-faced Saki (Pithecia pithecia) (Schrenzel et al 2003) and marmosets (Callithrix sp.) (Murphy et al 1972, Juan-Sallés et al 1997, Huemer et al 2002, Matz--Rensing et al 2003, Hatt et al 2004, Lefaux et al 2004, resulting in lethal infection.…”

Outbreak of Human Herpesvirus Type 1 Infection in Nonhuman Primates (Callithrix penincillata)

“…The close relatedness between humans and nonhuman primates has enabled interspecies transmission (Mãtz-Rensing et al, 2003). Human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) and human herpesvirus 2 (HHV-2) can infect nonhuman primates and cause a severe, often fatal illness (Schrenzel et al, 2003). Fatal infections with HHV-1 have been reported for several species of nonhuman primates, including the white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia pithecia; Schmutzhard et al, 2004), the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus; Huemer et al, 2002), the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar; Landolfi et al, 2005), and the orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus; Kik et al 2005).…”

Specific Detection and Identification of Herpes B Virus by a PCR-Microplate Hybridization Assay

“…These similarities suggest that a sample from a patient with herpes B virus infection also contains HSV and that misidentification occurs in a diagnosis of the infection. In addition, HSV type 1 (HSV-1) was reported to be isolated and detected from a pet monkey and from white-faced monkeys with fatal infection, suggesting that a macaque, a natural host of herpes B virus, is infected with HSV (13,30). Thus, accurate diagnosis of herpes B virus infection in both human and the natural herpes B virus host requires a specific assay to distinguish herpes B virus from the closely related HSV.…”