Fatal Infection of a Pet Monkey with Human herpesvirus 1

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about pet monkeys as a potential threat to humans. We report the opposite situation, a danger to pets that arises from humans. Similar to herpesvirus B (Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1), which endangers humans but not its host species, Human herpesvirus 1 can act as a “killer virus” when crossing the species barrier to New World monkeys.

Keywords

• Austria
• Callithrix
• HHV-1
• Human herpesvirus
• marmoset
• primate