title: Risk of venereal B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) transmission in rhesus monkeys using molecular epidemiology.
abstract: The importance of venereal modes of B virus (cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) transmission was evaluated in 49 rhesus monkeys tested at necropsy. Antibodies to B virus were demonstrated in 19 monkeys, but no active viral shedding was detected in mucosal swabs collected at death. The polymerase chain reaction demonstrated presence of the ICP 18.5 (UL28) gene of B virus in neuronal tissues of 15 monkeys presumed to be latently infected, including 12.8% of trigeminal and 22.9% of lumbosacral ganglia pools. Two monkeys tested positive at both sites. Breeding history was predictive of B virus seropositivity (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.23; P < .05). The population attributable risk of B virus seropositivity due to breeding was 22.7%, similar to the proportion of monkeys with B virus DNA in neuronal tissues subserving the genital region. Sexual contact is a significant, but not predominant, mode of B virus transmission between monkeys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Weigler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scinicariello
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hilliard
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001947:Breeding; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; C069185:DNA cleavage and packaging proteins, Herpesvirus