Experimental Infection of Squirrel Monkeys with Nipah Virus

Abstract

We infected squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) with Nipah virus to determine the monkeys’ suitability for use as primate models in preclinical testing of preventive and therapeutic treatments. Infection of squirrel monkeys through intravenous injection was followed by high death rates associated with acute neurologic and respiratory illness and viral RNA and antigen production.

Keywords

• Nipah virus
• emergent infection
• primates
• pathogenesis
• squirrel monkey
• Saimiri sciureus