Serological evidence of herpesvirus infection in gibbons

BACKGROUND: Herpesviruses are not only infectious agents of worldwide distribution in humans, but have also been demonstrated in various non-human primates as well. Seventy-eight gibbons were subjected to serological tests by ELISA for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS: The prevalence of IgG antibodies against HSV-1, HSV-2, EBV and CMV was 28.2%, 28.2%, 14.1% and 17.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Antigenic cross-reactivity is expected to exist between the human herpesviruses and gibbon herpesviruses. Gibbons have antibodies to human herpesviruses that may reflect zoonotic infection with human herpesviruses or infection with indigenous gibbon herpesviruses. Therefore, it is difficult to draw concrete conclusions from serological studies alone. Identification should be based on further isolation and molecular characterization of viruses from seropositive animals.

背景：疱疹病毒不仅是全球范围内感染人类的病原体，还在多种非人灵长类动物中被证实存在。本研究对78只长臂猿采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA），检测其针对单纯疱疹病毒1型（HSV-1）、单纯疱疹病毒2型（HSV-2）、EB病毒（EBV）及巨细胞病毒（CMV）的血清学指标。
结果：针对HSV-1、HSV-2、EBV及CMV的IgG抗体阳性率分别为28.2%、28.2%、14.1%及17.9%。
结论：人类疱疹病毒与长臂猿疱疹病毒之间预期存在抗原交叉反应。长臂猿体内可检出针对人类疱疹病毒的抗体，这一现象可能源于人类疱疹病毒的人畜共患感染，或是本土长臂猿疱疹病毒的自然感染。因此，仅通过血清学研究难以得出确切结论，病毒的鉴定需进一步依托对血清学阳性动物的病毒分离与分子特征分析。