Enteric viruses of nonhuman primates.

Area of Science:

• Primate Virology
• Comparative Pathology
• Infectious Disease Modeling

Background:

• Nonhuman primates share phylogenetic relationships with humans, suggesting their utility as disease models.
• Many primate species are susceptible to human viruses and possess their own viruses analogous to human pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the suitability of nonhuman primates as surrogates for studying human diseases.
• To review the varied responses of different primate species to viral infections.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on nonhuman primate viral susceptibility and disease.
• Analysis of species-specific responses to various viral agents, including poliovirus, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, reoviruses, and rotaviruses.

Main Results:

• Primate responses to viral stimuli are species-dependent; some viruses are highly pathogenic in certain species while benign in others.
• Enteric viruses, including adenoviruses and reoviruses, can be recovered from the intestinal tract, with varying pathogenicity (e.g., fatal pneumoenteritis in newborns).
• The potential for enteric viruses to induce diabetes in primates is under investigation but not conclusively demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• Nonhuman primates are crucial for understanding viral diseases affecting humans, but careful consideration of species-specific responses is essential for effective research.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the pathogenic potential of various viruses in nonhuman primates and their relevance to human health.