HERPESVIRUS ENCEPHALITIS IN A RUFFED LEMUR (VARECIA-VARIEGATUS)

Based on ultrastructural morphology, a herpesvirus was identified as t he etiology of a fatal encephalitis in an adult male black and white r uffed lemur (Varecia variegatus). Clinical signs observed were chronic intermittent lameness and paresis progressing to convulsions with nys tagmus, anisocoria, and profuse salivation. Multifocal, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis with malacia, demyelination, and frequent eosinop hilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in the brain. Electron microscopic examination revealed 100-mum-diameter spherical virus part icles in the intranuclear inclusions, ultrastructurally compatible wit h a herpesvirus. A herpesvirus has not been previously reported as a c ause of encephalitis in lemurs.