Epidemiology of herpesvirus papio infection in a large captive baboon colony: Similarities to Epstein-Barr virus infection in humans

The epidemiology of herpesvirus papio, a lymphocryptovirus similar to Epste in-Barr virus (EBV), was studied in a captive colony of >1900 baboons. Herp esvirus papio IgG antibody titers were measured by IFA. In total, 438 speci mens from 296 baboons were assessed, including 116 serial specimens from 52 juveniles and 6 infants studied monthly for 1 year following birth and at age 18 months. Maternally derived antibody reached a nadir at 4 months of a ge. About 75% of animals at 12 months of age and >95% of animals after age 24 months demonstrated serologic evidence of herpesvirus papio infection. A fter age 3 years, the geometric mean titer was 1 : 60-75. The epidemiology of herpesvirus papio infection in baboons closely parallels that of EBV inf ection in humans. An animal model of lymphocryptovirus infection will facil itate investigations of human lymphocryptovirus biology.