Abstract
Although the guinea pig is susceptible to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) adapted to fetal guinea pig tissue cultures, species other than the human have not proven susceptible to wild-type VZV infection. Varicella-like illnesses among cercopithecoids have been associated with herpesviruses related to, but distinct from, VZV. In contrast, varicella-like illnesses occurring among the hominoids have often been associated with exposure to VZV, although the etiologies have been considered to be species-specific agents other than VZV.
We observed a self-limited varicella-like illness in a young gorilla born and maintained in captivity in close proximity to other primates, including man. Electron microscopic examination of vesicle fluid revealed particles characteristic of an herpesvirus, an agent was isolated from vesicle fluid and nasopharyngeal secretions, and the gorilla seroconverted to VZV. Hind III and EcoRl digestion of the isolate demonstrated restriction patterns identical to that of VZV.
This gorilla probably acquired varicella from a human animal handler. However, because the gorilla is phylogenetically closely related to man, it is also possible that VZV may be a natural pathogen of other hominoids, such as the gorilla.
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Myers, M., Kramer, L. & Stanberry, L. VARICELLA IN A GORILLA. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 331 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00981
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00981