Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment
07:21

Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment

Published on: June 23, 2019

Exposure to human respiratory viruses among urban performing monkeys in Indonesia

Michael A Schillaci1, Lisa Jones-Engel, Gregory A Engel

  • 1Department of Social Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. schillaci@utsc.utoronto.ca

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|October 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Performing monkeys in Asia show exposure to human respiratory viruses like measles, rubella, and parainfluenza. This confirms human-to-primate transmission and raises concerns about primate-to-human disease spread.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Zoonotic Disease Research

Background:

  • Performing monkeys inhabit urban environments, creating opportunities for pathogen transmission.
  • Urban animal markets are potential hubs for pathogen mixing and cross-species transmission.
  • Human respiratory viruses are endemic in many Asian populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate evidence of exposure to measles, rubella, and parainfluenza in performing monkeys.
  • To assess the potential for human-to-primate and primate-to-human pathogen transmission.
  • To discuss the public health implications of performing monkeys as disease conduits.

Main Methods:

  • Serological testing for antibodies against measles, rubella, and parainfluenza viruses.
  • Analysis of the urban ecology of performing monkeys and their market origins.
  • Epidemiological assessment of potential disease transmission pathways.

Main Results:

  • First documented evidence of exposure to measles, rubella, and parainfluenza in performing monkeys.
  • Confirmation of human-to-primate transmission of these endemic respiratory viruses.
  • Identification of urban animal markets as potential sources for performing monkeys and pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Performing monkeys can be exposed to and potentially transmit human respiratory viruses.
  • Urban animal markets facilitate pathogen mixing, increasing zoonotic disease risk.
  • The risk of disease transmission extends beyond Asia due to international travel.

More Related Videos

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection09:01

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Published on: December 10, 2013

Analysis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in Rhesus Macaques by Peptide-MHC-I Tetramer Staining06:25

Analysis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in Rhesus Macaques by Peptide-MHC-I Tetramer Staining

Published on: December 23, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Influenza01:27

Influenza

Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
Common Respiratory Disorders01:31

Common Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory disorders, a prevalent health concern globally, are generally divided into two primary categories: upper and lower respiratory tract disorders. The categorization is based on the area of the respiratory system they affect.
Upper respiratory disorders impact the airways above the vocal cords, encompassing areas like the nose, sinuses, and throat. Various conditions fall under this category, including the common cold and allergic rhinitis. These disorders can stem from several causes,...