West Nile Virus Encephalitis in a Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus)

Abstract

An aged Barbary ape (Macaca sylvanus) at the Toronto Zoo became infected with naturally acquired West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis that caused neurologic signs, which, associated with other medical problems, led to euthanasia. The diagnosis was based on immunohistochemical assay of brain lesions, reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, and virus isolation.

Keywords

• Barbary macaque
• Macaca sylvanus
• encephalitis
• West Nile virus
• immunohistochemistry
• Flaviviridae