Increased peripheral lymphocytes, lymphoid hepatitis and anaemia in African Vervet monkeys seropositive to retroviruses

• Published in: Journal of comparative pathology Vol. 101; no. 1; pp. 53 - 68
• Main Authors: Fincham, J.E., Van Der Riet, F., Steytler, J.G., Lai Tung, Marie T., Cooper, Rosemary, Seier, J.V., Madden, D.L., Kanki, Phyllis, Campbell, J.A.H., Taljaard, J.J.F., Woodroof, C.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Anemia - metabolism; Anemia - pathology; Anemia - veterinary; Animal viral diseases; Animals; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Cercopithecus - microbiology; Cercopithecus aethiops - microbiology; Female; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal - etiology; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal - metabolism; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal - pathology; Immunoglobulins - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Infectious diseases; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Monkey Diseases - etiology; Monkey Diseases - metabolism; Monkey Diseases - pathology; Retroviridae Infections - complications; Retroviridae Infections - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - veterinary; Retroviruses, Simian - isolation & purification; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - isolation & purification; Simian T-lymphotropic virus 1 - isolation & purification; Viral diseases; Seropositivity; Leukocyte; Liver; Retroviridae; Cercopithecus aethiops; Histology; Virus; Numeration; Pathology; Vertebrata; STLV1 virus; Mammalia; Primates; Simioidea; Simian immunodeficiency virus; Blood cell count
• ISSN: 0021-9975; 1532-3129
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9975(89)90076-5

Wild-caught African Vervet monkeys are commonly infected by Simian T-lymphotropic virus I (STLV1) and Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), yet the natural histories of these infections are largely unknown. Seropositivity was associated with increased total, T and atypical lymphocytes. In seropositive females there was mild, normocytic, normochromic anaemia. Lymphoid hepatitis was present in seven seropositive cases. African Vervets used in biomedical research, vaccine production and organ transplantation research are often infected by exogenous retroviruses which can be oncogenic and immunosuppressive in captive monkeys. Elimination of these infections may be possible by breeding Vervets in captivity.