Neutralizing antibodies to simian papovavirus SA12 in Old World primates in laboratory colonies: high prevalence in baboons.

Sera from 517 laboratory-housed nonhuman primates representing five genera and from 13 laboratory workers were examined for the presence of neutralizing antibodies to SA12 virus. The antibody prevalences were as follows: baboons, 66%; patas and vervet monkeys, 24%; macaques, 8%, and chimpanzees, 2%. The serum of one laboratory worker had antibodies.

Some infectious diseases of wild vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus) in South Africa.

Our surveys indicate that nearly all batches of vervet monkeys arriving at the National Institute for Virology from various areas of South Africa, are infected with foamy viruses and there is evidence that intra-urterine infection also occurs. Monkeys from certain areas of South Africa are apparently infected with the protozoal parasite Entopolypoides macaci in a sub-clinical state which becomes active when the monkeys are splenectomised. Serological studies indicate that infections with schistosomes, tick-bite fever (Rickettsia conori), chlamydsiae and occasionally by leptospirae, occur in monkeys in the Kruger National Park.

Characterization of SA12 as a simian virus 40-related papovavirus of chacma baboons.

SA12 virus, originally isolated from an uninoculated South African vervet monkey kidney culture, was identified as a new member of the simian virus 40 (SV40)-polyoma subgroup of papovaviruses. The virus produced a cytopathic effect with nuclear enlargement in primary rhesus kidney cells. The virion had papovavirus morphology and a diameter of 44 to 45 nm.