Detection of herpesvirus DNA in cottontop tamarins: no association with colitis.
Colitis occurs spontaneously in the cottontop tamarin; it shares similar clinical, endoscopic and histological features with, and has a similar response to treatment as, human ulcerative colitis. An association between human ulcerative colitis and the presence of DNA from multiple herpesviruses (human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the colon has been described. Intestinal herpesvirus infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. In a pilot study, coded full thickness colonic specimens from 27 cottontop tamarins were examined for the presence of HHV-6, CMV and EBV DNA using the nested polymerase chain reaction. The sections represented a spectrum of disease activity ranging from histologically normal bowel to severe colitis. A low prevalence of DNA from these viruses was found, which bore no relation to the presence of inflammation. Although these herpesviruses may have a pathogenetic role in human ulcerative colitis, they are not associated with colitis in this animal model.
Smith
M S
MS
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.
Warren
B F
BF
Fox
J D
JD
Watkins
P E
PE
Hudson
M
M
Pounder
R E
RE
Wakefield
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012452:Saguinus
D004279:DNA, Viral