Simian homologues of human herpesvirus 8.

ABSTRACT

Gamma-herpesviruses can be found in most primates including Old World an New World monkeys. The gamma-herpesvirinae are grouped into two classes lymphocryptoviruses (gamma1) and rhadinoviruses (gamma2). The lymphocryptoviruses include Epstein-Barr virus, lymphocryptovirus of rhesus monkeys, and Herpesvirus papio of baboons. Rhadinoviruses that infect New World monkeys include Herpesvirus saimiri, whose natural host is the squirrel monkey, and Herpesvirus ateles, which infects spider monkeys. Rhadinoviruses that infect hominoids and Old World monkeys include Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, also known as HHV-8, and rhesus monkey rhadinovirus.