Human exposure to herpesvirus B-seropositive macaques, Bali, Indonesia.
Herpesvirus B (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) has been implicated as the cause of approximately 40 cases of meningoencephalitis affecting persons in direct or indirect contact with laboratory macaques. However, the threat of herpesvirus B in nonlaboratory settings worldwide remains to be addressed. We investigated the potential for exposure to herpesvirus B in workers at a "monkey forest" (a temple that has become a tourist attraction because of its monkeys) in Bali, Indonesia. In July 2000, 105 workers at the Sangeh Monkey Forest in Central Bali were surveyed about contact with macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Nearly half of those interviewed had either been bitten or scratched by a macaque. Prevalence of injury was higher in those who fed macaques. Serum from 31 of 38 Sangeh macaques contained antibodies to herpesvirus B. We conclude that workers coming into contact with macaques at the Sangeh Monkey Forest are at risk for exposure to herpesvirus B.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. ga_engel@yahoo.com
Gregory A
GA
Engel
Lisa
L
Jones-Engel
Michael A
MA
Schillaci
Komang Gde
KG
Suaryana
Artha
A
Putra
Agustin
A
Fuentes
Richard
R
Henkel
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral