Serological evidence of infection with Tana and Yaba pox viruses among several species of monkey

Abstract

SUMMARYSera from cynomolgus monkeys from Malaysia, from Indian rhesus monkeys, from various species of monkeys from Africa and from South America have been examined for neutralizing antibody to Tanapox and Yaba viruses. No antibody was found to either virus in the sera of rhesus monkeys or South American monkeys. A certain proportion of sera from cynomolgus monkeys and various species of African monkey showed antibody to one or other of the viruses, but few of the positive sera showed antibody to both. The results would seem to suggest that infection with the two viruses is endemic in African and Malaysian monkeys but does not occur or is very rare in Indian rhesus and New World monkeys.

Viral Diseases of Nonhuman Primates

“…The unique circumstances responsible for the initial outbreak of YLDV infection in macaques are unrecognized. Serologic surveys indicate natural infection of African but not New World primates (Downie, 1972;Downie and Espana, 1974).…”

“…Serologic surveys indicate natural infection of African but not New World primates (Downie, 1972;Downie and Espana, 1974).…”

“…A viral etiology was subsequently demonstrated and confirmed as a poxvirus. Yaba monkey tumor virus (YMTV) has been shown to naturally infect macaques (M. mulatta, M. fascicularis, and M. arctoides) and baboons (Papio anubis) (Downie, 1972). Experimentally, the pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina), stump-tailed macaque (M. arctoides), African green monkey, sooty mangabey (Cerocebus atys), and the Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) are susceptible (Kupper et al, 1970).…”

Poxvirus hosts and reservoirs

“…Some species (Indian Macaca mulatta) had no antibody, and the average incidence in those species with some positive individuMs was 14 per cent (18). The percentage of monkeys with neutralizing antibodies to Tanapox virus varies from 2 per cent (Kenyan Erythrocebus patas) to 25 per cent (Liberian Cercopithecus and Colobus).…”

Tanapox. A serological survey of the lower Tana River valley

“…These studies indicated that Tanapox infection had occurred in various species of monkey in Africa and in macacus monkeys in Malaysia. Tanapox antibodies were absent from the sera of rhesus monkeys from India and from various species of monkey in the new world (Downie, 1974). In 1971 the examination of sera from natives living in the flood plain area by the Tana river suggested that Tanapox infection had continued to occur in the population of that area since the outbreak in 1962 (Manson-Bahr & Downie, 1973).…”