Emerging infectious diseases · 1998 · 87 citations · 14 references
Veterinary MedicineInfectious DiseasesMicrobiologyInfectious Disease EpidemiologyVirologyZoonotic Disease EpidemiologyBacterial InfectionsViral EpidemiologyViral InfectionsViral ZoonosesZoonotic InfectionsZoonotic VirusesAnimal Bite EpidemiologyAnimal Bite ExposureArboviral ZoonosesEmerging Zoonotic VirusesPrimate Infectious DiseasesZoonotic Animal VirusesZoonotic Viral DiseasesZoonotic Viral Infections
Of primary concern when evaluating macaque bites are bacterial and B-virus infections. B-virus infection is highly prevalent (80% to 90%) in adult macaques and may cause a potentially fatal meningoencephalitis in humans. We examined seven nonoccupational exposure incidents involving 24 persons and eight macaques. Six macaques were tested for herpes B; four (67%) were seropositive. A common observation was that children were more than three times as likely to be bitten than adults. The virus must be assumed to be a potential health hazard in macaque bite wounds; this risk makes macaques unsuitable as pets.
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