Collaborators: Francesco Branda, Alessandra Ciccozzi, Marta Giovanetti, Chiara Romano, Massimo Ciccozzi, Fabio Scarpa
Summary: Recently, the first documented case of B virus in humans in Hong Kong (https://tinyurl.com/2024-herpesbvirus-cases) has raised new concerns about a potential public health threat, given the notoriety of the pathogen and the worldwide presence of macaque monkeys, its natural hosts. The incident involved a 37-year-old man who experienced severe neurological symptoms after being scratched and bitten by wild macaques in a local park. B virus (also commonly referred to as herpes B, herpesvirus simiae, and herpesvirus) is an extremely rare but potentially lethal infection in humans, with a historical mortality rate exceeding 70% in untreated cases. The virus typically resides asymptomatically in macaque monkeys, including rhesus macaques, pig-tailed macaques and cynomolgus monkeys, which show no signs of disease despite being able to transmit the virus through saliva, urine or feces. The main mode of transmission to humans is through bites or scratches, which can cause severe neurological damage and death if not treated promptly and effectively. Human cases documented in the literature are summarized. These cases involve a variety of macaque species, predominantly Macaca mulatta, which has been implicated in multiple incidents. This reflects the role of this species as the main natural host of the virus. Most human infections have occurred through bites or scratches, highlighting the danger of direct contact with these animals. However, cases resulting from apparently minor exposures, such as contact with saliva or handling of macaque tissues in a laboratory setting, have also been documented. Outcomes vary widely, from complete recoveries to deaths, depending on the speed of treatment and the nature of the exposure. The most severe cases tend to be those untreated or with delayed treatment. Incubation periods before symptom manifestation vary, but many cases show rapid disease expression within a few days of exposure.
Publication Date: 2024-08-00
Journal: New Microbes and New Infections
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmni.2024.101422