EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION OF CYNOMOLGUS MONKEYS WITH SIMIAN PARVOVIRUS

Simian parvovirus is a recently discovered parvovirus that was first i solated from cynomolgus monkeys, It is similar to human B19 parvovirus in terms of virus genome, tropism for erythroid cells, and characteri stic pathology in natural infections. Cynomolgus monkeys were infected with simian parvovirus to investigate their potential usefulness as a n animal model of human B19 parvovirus. Six adult female cynomolgus mo nkeys were inoculated with purified simian parvovirus by the intraveno us or intranasal route and monitored for evidence of clinical abnormal ities; this included the preparation of complete hematological profile s, Viremia and simian parvovirus-specific antibody were determined in infected monkeys by dot blot and Western blot assays, respectively. Bo ne marrow was examined at necropsy 6, 10, or 15 days postinfection. Al l of the monkeys developed a smoldering, low-grade viremia that peaked approximately 10 to 12 days after inoculation, Peak viremia coincided with the appearance of specific antibody and was followed by sudden c learance of the virus and complete, but transient, absence of reticulo cytes from the peripheral blood, Clinical signs were mild and involved mainly anorexia and slight weight loss, Infection,vas associated with a mild decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte numbers. B one marrow showed marked destruction of erythroid cells coincident wit h peak viremia, Our findings indicate that infection of healthy monkey s by simian parvovirus is self-limited and mild, with transient cessat ion of erythropoiesis. Our study has reproduced Koch's postulates and further shown that simian parvovirus infection of monkeys is almost id entical to human B19 parvovirus infection of humans, Accordingly, this animal model may prove valuable in the study of the pathogenesis of B 19 virus infection.