A Review on Zoonotic Pathogens Associated with Non-Human Primates: Understanding the Potential Threats to Humans

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 246
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xinjie, Fan, Zhenyu, Li, Shijia, Yin, Haichang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 18.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Biological research; Control; Diagnosis; diagnostic methods; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Diseases and pests; DNA polymerase; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Food consumption; Genetic aspects; Genomes; Global health; Herpes simplex; Herpes viruses; HIV; Homology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infections; Infectious diseases; Laboratories; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Microbiological research; Microscopy; Monkeypox; Monkeys & apes; Mortality; non-human primate; Pandemics; Parasites; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; prevention measures; Primates; Public health; Rabies; Review; Smallpox; spread limitation; Tourism; Tourism development; treatment measures; Tropical diseases; Vaccines; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; viral pathogen; Viruses; Zoonoses; China; United States > US; Europe; West Africa; diagnostic methods; viral pathogen; treatment measures; non-human primate; prevention measures; spread limitation
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020246

Non-human primates (NHP) share a close relationship with humans due to a genetic homology of 75-98.5%. NHP and humans have highly similar tissue structures, immunity, physiology, and metabolism and thus often can act as hosts to the same pathogens. Agriculture, meat consumption habits, tourism development, religious beliefs, and biological research have led to more extensive and frequent contact between NHPs and humans. Deadly viruses, such as rabies virus, herpes B virus, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and monkeypox virus can be transferred from NHP to humans. Similarly, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, and yellow fever virus can be transmitted to NHP from humans. Infectious pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can affect the health of both primates and humans. A vast number of NHP-carrying pathogens exhibit a risk of transmission to humans. Therefore, zoonotic infectious diseases should be evaluated in future research. This article reviews the research evidence, diagnostic methods, prevention, and treatment measures that may be useful in limiting the spread of several common viral pathogens via NHP and providing ideas for preventing zoonotic diseases with epidemic potential.