KS: Hutchinson Zoo monkeys die after getting disease from mice

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news...-die-after-getting-disease-from-mice/30066610


Hutchinson Zoo monkeys die after getting disease from mice
Anna Auld Anna Auld, aauld@kwch.com
POSTED: 07:05 PM CST Dec 04, 2014

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -

Cotton-topped Tamarin monkeys can be found at zoos around Kansas, and you used to be able to see 3 of them at the zoo in Hutchinson. Zoo Director John Wright says workers noticed something wasn't right with the monkeys last month.

"What we observed was low appetite and very lethargic behavior so they were just kind of sleeping a lot and off."

Wright says their symptoms didn't improve and all three died within a matter of days. He blames their deaths on mice.

He says the monkeys picked-up a disease that's similar to meningitis and hepatitis from the rodents.

"At this time when they are looking for shelter they can come into buildings and what not."

He says it's a common disease mice have. Wright isn't worried about the other zoo animals, because infected mice can only spread the disease to new world primates, like Tamarins. However, if people have direct contact with the infected mice, they can get sick, too. Wright says his crew is cleaning and disinfecting the exhibit just to be safe...

 

[Emily]

Re: KS: Hutchinson Zoo monkeys die after getting disease from mice

Strange that the virus is not named, especially if it can infect humans. This is the same species that was decimated by an unknown or undisclosed illness at the Oregon Zoo in May.

Six tamarin monkeys die at Oregon Zoo shortly after arrival, cause unknown

 

[Emily]

Re: KS: Hutchinson Zoo monkeys die after getting disease from mice

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8450260

J Infect Dis. 1993 Apr;167(4):946-50.
A common-source outbreak of callitrichid hepatitis in captive tamarins and marmosets.
Montali RJ1, Scanga CA, Pernikoff D, Wessner DR, Ward R, Holmes KV.
Author information
Abstract

Callitrichid hepatitis (CH) is a highly fatal, emerging arenavirus disease of captive South American marmosets and tamarins (Callitrichidae), including the endangered golden lion tamarin. A common-source outbreak of CH in golden lion tamarins and pygmy marmosets at a US zoo resulted from a single feeding of the primates with newborn mice in apparently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Isolates from livers of mice and primates were related to isolates from previous CH outbreaks and to laboratory strains of LCMV by serology and nucleic acid hybridization, and 2 surviving animals developed antibody to other LCMVCH isolates and to laboratory strains of LCMV. Thus, LCMV, an arenavirus prevalent in wild mice in the US, can cause sporadic fatal hepatic disease in primates. Exposure of humans to wild or laboratory mice or to marmosets and tamarins that are infected with wild-type strains of LCMV poses the danger of serious disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/lcm/

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, or LCM, is a rodent-borne viral infectious disease caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a member of the family Arenaviridae, that was initially isolated in 1933.

The primary host of LCMV is the common house mouse, Mus musculus. Infection in house mouse populations may vary by geographic location, though it is estimated that 5% of house mice throughout the United States carry LCMV and are able to transmit virus for the duration of their lives without showing any sign of illness. Other types of rodents, such as hamsters, are not the natural reservoirs but can become infected with LCMV from wild mice at the breeder, in the pet store, or home environment. Humans are more likely to contract LCMV from house mice, but infections from pet rodents have also been reported.

LCMV infections have been reported in Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Japan, and may occur wherever infected rodent hosts of the virus are found. The disease has historically been underreported, often making it difficult to determine incidence rates or estimates of prevalence by geographic region. Several serologic studies conducted in urban areas have shown that the prevalence of LCMV antibodies in human populations range from 2% to 5%.

Additionally, pregnancy-related infection has been associated with congenital hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and mental retardation.

 

[alert]

Re: KS: Hutchinson Zoo monkeys die after getting disease from mice

Excellent find, Emily. I had been thinking hantavirus, but you are clearly right about arenavirus.

I can see why they might not have wanted to disclose that in the initial article, especially if they weren't sure precisely which arenavirus was involved. There are a large number of similar viruses that could be involved.