Abstract
A systematic sampling technique was used in combination with a highly sensitive and specific ELISA to provide unbiased age-specific prevalence estimates of B virus antibody in rhesus monkeys housed in three different outdoor breeding corrals. Among 146 sampled monkeys, 97% of animals 2.5 years and older were seropositive, while only 22% of younger animals were seropositive. Neither gender nor social dominance ranking were predictive of B virus antibody status. The strong age association was not inconsistent with hypothesized veneral transmission of B virus. Improvements in the epidemiologic understanding of B virus are necessary to assist efforts to eradicate this agent from breeding colonies of rhesus monkeys.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 257-261 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Laboratory Animal Science |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - 1990 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)