Seroprevalence of SV40‐like polyomavirus infections in captive and free‐ranging macaque species

Abstract

High seroprevalence rates were found in different species of macaques, dependent on their origin. Very low infection rates found in Barbary macaques and cynomolgus macaques from Mauritius suggest that these animals in the wild are not commonly infected by SV40-like viruses.

Overview of known non-human primate pathogens with potential to affect colonies used for toxicity testing

“…First isolated from primary macaque kidney cell lines that were used in polio vaccine production, SV40 has been studied extensively in the laboratory and is now a common contaminant (Butel and Lednicky, 1999). Serologic evidence indicates that both SV40 and CPV are readily transmitted in breeding colonies of macaques, with seroprevalence rates greater than 75% by 2-3 years of age (Verschoor et al, 2008). While infection is common, clinical disease has not been described in immunologically normal animals.…”

Characterization of novel polyomaviruses from Bornean and Sumatran orang-utans

“…A panel of 95 sera from orang-utans was screened in an ELISA using virus-like particles derived from SV40 VP1, the major capsid protein (Verschoor et al, 2008b). A substantial number of orang-utan sera were positive for antibodies that reacted with this protein, indicating that orang-utans can be infected with SV40 or a related polyomavirus.…”

Biomedical Evaluation of a Brown Lemur (Eulemur Fulvus Spp.) Population From Mbouzi Islet, Mayotte Island

“…No native felids are present either on Madagascar nor on Mayotte but toxoplasmosis is present in domestic cats and parasitic cycles are running in various intermediate hosts, including domestic animals and human beings. 32 As no cats were ever observed on Mbouzi, exposure is likely to be anthropogenic, caused by the frequent influx of food and visitors from the main island on Mbouzi, possibly contaminated with oocysts from feline feces. 30 Ingestion of those oocysts is the most likely hypothesis to explain the seroconversion of these lemurs.…”

“…in Japan and Europe, where 1.4% to 89% of the tested monkeys were found to be positive, with prevalence varying according to the species. 2,12,32 The results of a study conducted in North American zoos suggest that those who work closely with nonhuman primates are occupationally exposed to SV40. 8 Thus, animals from Mbouzi should be handled with care as 10% of them were antibodypositive for a pan polyomavirus (PyV) ELISA (including PyV from mice, chimpanzees, and squirrel monkeys).…”