Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Macaques living in Florida park ‘pose health threat’
Non-native rhesus macaques were first introduced to the park in the 1930s.
Study shows primates are shedding herpes B

Rhesus macaques living in a public park in Florida are a ‘public health concern’, scientists have warned, after new research found they are shedding the herpes B virus, which can be fatal to humans.

Researchers from the universities of Washington and Florida studied macaque samples collected by trappers over a 12-year period, from the Silver Springs State Park and along the Ocklawaha River. They also collected saliva and faecal samples from the free-ranging macaques in 2015-16.

According to the research paper, which is published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, the average annual seroprevalence was 25 per cent in animals captured during 2000-2012. However, this is thought to be an underestimate as trappers in later years primarily targeted younger animals, which appear to have a lower seroprevalence.

Researchers said the data suggest ‘a substantial proportion’ of the population are likely to be carriers for macacine herpesvirus 1 (McHV-1), or herpes B.

The team also noted that there appears to be a seasonal variation, as animals only shed the virus in the autumn breeding season - a particularly stressful time as male-on-male aggression is high.

After the initial McHV-1 infection, the virus becomes latent and can reactivate during times of stress or immunosuppression. At this point, animals begin shedding the virus from oral, nasal or genital mucosa, without signs of illness. In the 2015 breeding season, 4-14 per cent of macaques were shedding the virus orally.

It is also thought that more than two different strains of the virus are circulating in the park, both of which have been seen in laboratories.

Non-native rhesus macaques were first introduced to the park in the 1930s. When the study began in 2015, there were 175 individuals living there. Boaters often feed the animals at close distances, which is likely to increase the public health threat, as the virus is typically caught through exposure to bodily fluids of infected macaques, e.g. from a bite or scratch.

Whilst McHV-1 does not cause clinical illness in macaques, around 50 per cent of infections cause fatal encephalitis in humans that are left untreated, so researchers said the pathogen ‘should be considered a low-incidence, high-consequence risk, and adequate public health measures should be taken.’

Despite the potential for transmission, there have been no reports of human infections or deaths from McHV-1, caused by free-ranging animals. All recorded cases of human transmission and death from the virus have been associated with captive animals in laboratory settings.

As robust surveillance is currently lacking, researchers said further work is needed to understand the factors associated with transmission and pathogenicity, as well as the role host stress plays in human disease outcomes.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.