Identification of cell proteins that bind to the SHFV 3' (+)NCR.

Abstract

African primates are the natural hosts for simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV), a member of the family Arteriviridae. SHFV causes asymptomatic, persistent or acute self-limiting infections in patas monkeys, African green monkeys, and baboons. In contrast, SHFV infection in macaque monkeys causes a hemorrhagic fever that results in death within two weeks. SHFV spreads quickly through macaque colonies either by aerosol or direct contact with body fluids. In primate holding facilities infection of macaques with SHFV has been initiated by inadvertent transfer of virus from African primates by humans or by housing African primates and macaque species in close contact. SHFV was first isolated in 1964 after it had caused outbreaks in macaque colonies in the United States, Russia, and Europe (London, 1977). Subsequent outbreaks in two U. S. primate facilities occurred in 1989 and 1996 (Hayes et al., 1992; Jahrling, 1990; Roilin et al., 1999).