Simian immunodeficiency virus infections in vervet monkeys (Clorocebus aethiops) at an Australian zoo

Abstract

A number of monkey species, including African green monkeys and African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops), are frequently infected in the wild and in captivity with a Simian immunodeficiency virus strain, SIVagm, a primate lentivirus.1-3 Up to 50% of African green monkeys are estimated to be infected with SIVagm.4 SIV strains are very closely related to HIV-2 strains, which are a cause of AIDS in humans, predominantly in western Africa, although cases in Australia have also been reported.5 It is generally thought that SIV is non-pathogenic in several natural hosts, including African green monkeys.6 Nevertheless many SIV strains induce a profound immunodeficiency virtually identical to HI..