Cercopithecine herpesvirus I

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Out of the 35 herpesviruses that have been identified in nonhuman primates, only Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1, also known as Herpes B or B virus, has been identified as pathogenic for humans. Because of the B virus’s prevalence in macaques and other biomedical research animals, study of the B virus is important for several reasons. These reasons including understanding how it functions and whether or not it inhibits any kind of biomedical testing, its interspecial and intraspecial transmission abilities, and its potential harm both to its regular hosts and less common hosts, such as humans.

Viral Biology

The family of herpesviruses has been divided into three main categories: Alphaherpesvirinae, Betaherpesvirinae, and Gammaherpesvirinae. The three categories were originally separated based on biological and molecular properties of the viruses. The α-herpesviruses, of which Herpes B is a member, generally initiate infection in mucosal epithelial cells. They locally replicate, and later invade sensory neurons. It is here that they form a latent infection in ganglia near the area of inoculation. Most α-herpesviruses also replicate quickly compared to the other two categories. In species that are not their natural hosts, the α-herpesviruses can produce disease with neurological involvement (Eberle 1995). Because of these dangers regarding cross-species infections, the α-herpesvirus group is potentially a substantial problem in using nonhuman primates as biomedical models of human disease. Herpes B is the only one herpesvirus that has been identified so far that is a pathogenic for humans (Huff 2003). It was also the first nonhuman primate herpesvirus to be identified. (Sabin et al 1934).

B Virus in Humans

On October 22nd, 1932, a Dr. W. B. was engaged in experimental work on poliomyelitis when he was bitten on the dorsum of the left ring and little fingers by a Macacus rhesus monkey who appeared normal. The superficial wounds were treated with iodine and alcohol. Three days later, however, Dr. B. was experiencing pain, redness, and slight swelling at the wound sites. By October 28th, he was admitted to the hospital with lymphangitis and a 101.4 degree fever. After tetanus antitoxin injection had been administered and he appeared to improve in health, he obtained stomach cramps. By November 4th, he had hyperesthesia of the lower extremities and urinary retention. Over the next few days paralysis moved upwards from the lower extremities. Soon he has paresthesias in the upper extremities, a 104.8 degree fever, and he was put on a respirator for a diminishing respiratory rate. After a convulsion with laryngeal spasm, he lost consciousness and developed pulmonary edema. Despite medical support, he died on November 8th, just 18 days after receiving the bite (Sabin et al 1934). This case was later found to be the first documented infection of Herpes B in a human.

References

[1. Sabin, A.B. & Wright, A.M. ACUTE ASCENDING MYELITIS FOLLOWING A MONKEY BITE, WITH THE ISOLATION OF A VIRUS CAPABLE OF REPRODUCING THE DISEASE. The Journal of experimental medicine 59, 115-136 (1934).]

Edited by (your name here), a student of Nora Sullivan in BIOL168L (Microbiology) in The Keck Science Department of the Claremont Colleges Spring 2014.