Modes of transmission and genetic diversity of foamy viruses in a Macaca tonkeana colony.

Background: Foamy viruses are exogenous complex retroviruses that are highly endemic in several animal species, including monkeys and apes, where they cause persistent infection. Simian foamy viral (SFV) infection has been reported in few persons occupationally exposed to non-human primates (NHP) in zoos, primate centers and laboratories, and recently in few hunters from central Africa. Most of the epidemiological works performed among NHP populations concern cross-sectional studies without long-term follow-up.

Influence of climatic factors on Pneumocystis carriage within a socially organized group of immunocompetent macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

As monkeys-derived Pneumocystis is closely related to P. jirovecii, simian populations should be considered as valuable models for the understanding of the epidemiology of human pneumocystosis. In the present study, the impact of environmental factors on the carriage of Pneumocystis was evaluated in socially organized group of immunocompetent macaques (Macaca fascicularis).