Macacine Herpesvirus 1 in Long-Tailed Macaques, Malaysia, 2009–2011

Mei-Ho Lee,Mallory E Harden,Frankie Sitam,Misliah Basir,Tom Hughes,Nathan D Wolfe,Jeffrine Japning,Melinda K Rostal,Jonathan H Epstein,Peter Daszak,Chee-Yen Lee,Anthony Griffiths

doi:10.3201/eid2107.140162

Abstract

Macacine herpesvirus 1 (MaHV1; B virus) naturally infects macaques (Macaca spp.) and can cause fatal encephalitis in humans. In Peninsular Malaysia, wild macaques are abundant, and translocation is used to mitigate human-macaque conflict. Most adult macaques are infected with MaHV1, although the risk for transmission to persons who handle them during capture and translocation is unknown. We investigated MaHV1 shedding among 392 long-tailed macaques (M. fascicularis) after capture and translocation by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Peninsular Malaysia, during 2009-2011. For detection of MaHV1 DNA, PCR was performed on urogenital and oropharyngeal swab samples. Overall, 39% of macaques were shedding MaHV1 DNA; rates of DNA detection did not differ between sample types. This study demonstrates that MaHV1 was shed by a substantial proportion of macaques after capture and transport and suggests that persons handling macaques under these circumstances might be at risk for exposure to MaHV1.

Highlights

Macacine herpesvirus 1 (MaHV1; B virus) naturally infects macaques (Macaca spp.) and can cause fatal encephalitis in humans
Macacine herpesvirus 1 (MaHV1; known as B virus) is a zoonotic pathogen that is enzootic among macaque (Macaca spp.) populations throughout Asia [1,2]
PCR is more sensitive than culture for detecting herpes simplex viruses (HSV) [25,26], and we considered the detection of MaHV1 DNA in a sample as an indication of virus shedding, viral load was not obtained through culture or quantitative PCR

Summary

Introduction

Macacine herpesvirus 1 (MaHV1; B virus) naturally infects macaques (Macaca spp.) and can cause fatal encephalitis in humans. This study demonstrates that MaHV1 was shed by a substantial proportion of macaques after capture and transport and suggests that persons handling macaques under these circumstances might be at risk for exposure to MaHV1. Little is known about the shedding rate of MaHV1 in macaques outside the laboratory setting, the frequency of transmission to humans, or the incidence of MaHV1 encephalitis among humans ( those with frequent contact with macaques). A nonpathogenic retrovirus found in nonhuman primates including macaques, has been transmitted during occupational exposure to macaques via bites and scratches in many of the aforementioned contexts and in agricultural, suburban, and urban environments [18,19,20]. Because exposure to MaHV1 can occur through similar routes [8], its transmission under circumstances similar to those of transmission of simian foamy virus in Asia is plausible

Methods

Results

Conclusion