Human Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Confiscated Gorilla

Abstract

In 2007, we detected human herpes simplex virus type 1, which caused stomatitis, in a juvenile confiscated eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) that had a high degree of direct contact with human caretakers. Our findings confirm that pathogens can transfer between nonhuman primate hosts and humans.

Keywords

• gorilla
• herpes simplex virus
• zoonoses
• nonhuman primate
• great ape
• herpesvirus