Abstract
Monkey B virus (Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1; BV) occurs naturally in macaques of the genus Macaca, which includes rhesus and long-tailed (cynomolgus) monkeys that are widely used in biomedical research. BV is closely related to the human herpes simplex viruses (HSV), and BV infections in its natural macaque host are quite similar to HSV infections in humans. Zoonotic BV is extremely rare, having been diagnosed in only a handful of North American facilities with the last documented case occurring in 1998. However, BV is notorious for its neurovirulence since zoonotic infections are serious, usually involving the central nervous system, and are frequently fatal. Little is known about factors underlying the extreme neurovirulence of BV in humans. Here we review what is actually known about the molecular biology of BV and viral factors affecting its neurovirulence. Based on what is known about related herpesviruses, areas for future research that may elucidate mechanisms underlying the neurovirulence of this intriguing virus are also reviewed.
Highlights
Herpesviruses are ubiquitous viruses, found in a wide variety of species including mammals, birds, and reptiles
Based on what is known about related herpesviruses, areas for future research that may elucidate mechanisms underlying the neurovirulence of this intriguing virus are reviewed
B virus (BV) is ubiquitous in populations of captive and free-ranging macaques and despite many exposure incidents every year; zoonotic infections are extremely rare and have only been documented in North America
Summary
Herpesviruses are ubiquitous viruses, found in a wide variety of species including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Alphaherpesviruses typically infect and remain within the peripheral sensory nervous system for the life of their host as part of their natural life cycle. The close and prolonged association of these viruses with their host over its entire lifetime with only rare impairment of nervous system function implies an exquisite degree of host-virus coadaptation. On occasion stability of this commensal symbiotic host-virus relationship can be altered, resulting in severe or even fatal disease often involving the central nervous system (CNS). In cases where an alphaherpesvirus infects a host of another species, the result can be, but is not always, catastrophic. Zoonotic BV infection following exposure to macaques has a mortality rate of ∼80%. We review what is known about this relatively neglected virus with regard to its infamous neurovirulence
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