Simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV)

Test code: S0113 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of simian hemorrhagic fever virus by reverse transcription real time PCR

Simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV) was first isolated in 1964 from rhesus macaques with hemorrhagic disease in research colonies in the United States and Russia.

SHFV is a positive-strand RNA virus that was recently classified in the family Arteriviridae along with equine arteritis virus (EAV), lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), within the new order Nidovirales.

Asymptomatic infection of SHFV can occur in patas monkeys, vervet monkeys, and baboons. Patas monkeys are thought to be the natural host for the virus. About 50% of wild patas monkeys have antibodies, while antibodies are much less prevalent in vervets and baboons. It is estimated that approximately 10% of patas monkeys may be asymptomatic carriers. In macaques (M. mulatta, M. fascicularis, M. arctoides, M. assamensis, M. nemestrina) infection with this virus can result in acute severe disease with high mortality.

Infection with this virus has a rapid onset. Animals develop fever, facial edema, cyanosis, anorexia, melena, and may have cutaneous, subcutaneous, and retrobulbar hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia will also develop. The clinical course typically lasts for 10-15 days before death.

Serologic tests cannot distinguish carriers from previously infected animals, and virus isolation is generally unreliable for diagnosis. Molecular detection by PCR has become the method of choice for detection of simian hemorrhagic fever.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Identify carriers of SHFV
• Ensure that animal colonies are free of SHFV
• Early prevention of spread of this virus among a colony
• Minimize unnecessary occupational exposure to this virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive from monkeys

Specimen requirement: 1 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, or cell culture, shipped overnight at room temperature.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected