Encephalomyocarditis virus mortality in semi-wild bonobos (Pan panicus)
Résumé
Background Fatal myocarditis from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)infection has previously been identified in sporadic and epidemic forms inmany species of captive non-human primates probably including one bonobo(Pan paniscus).Methods We investigated the deaths of two bonobos that were suspiciousof EMCV using a combination of histopathology, immunohistochemistryand, for one of the two bonobos, reverse transcription PCR.Results Histopathological examination of heart tissue from the two bonobosshowed changes characteristic of EMCV. Immunohistochemical studiesconfirmed the presence of EMCV antigen in heart tissue of both and inkidney and intestine of one of the bonobos. EMCV RNA was also isolatedfrom the serum of the bonobo tested.Conclusion Together, these findings confirm that EMCV was responsiblefor deaths of the two bonobos. Strict separation of bonobos in particularand captive primates in general from potential sources of EMCV contaminationshould be maintained to prevent mortality caused by EMCV.