Polyomaviruses of nonhuman primates: implications for research.
Polyomaviruses are a family of small nonenveloped DNA viruses that infect birds and mammals. At least 7 nonhuman primate polyomaviruses that occur in macaques, African green monkeys, marmosets baboons, and chimpanzees have been described, as well as 4 polyomaviruses that occur in humans. Simian virus 40 (SV40), which infects macaques, was the first nonhuman primate polyomavirus identified as a contaminant of early polio vaccines. Primate polyomaviruses cause inapparent primary infections but persist in the host and can cause severe disease in situations of immunocompromise. This review describes the primate polyomaviruses, and the diseases associated with the viruses of macaques. In macaques, the greatest current concerns are the potential confounding of study results by polyomavirus infections and the zoonotic potential of SV40.
Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, USA. meredith.simon@crl.com
Meredith A
MA
Simon
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000821:virology; D002144:Callithrix / Q000821:virology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca / Q000821:virology; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000821:virology; D010215:Papio / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D011323:Primates / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*