Abstract

PUJOL, Flor H.. VIRUS IN NONHUMAN PRIMATES: ZOONOSIS, ANTHROPONOSIS AND BIODIVERSITY. INCI [online]. 2006, vol.31, n.6, pp.396-402. ISSN 0378-1844.

Nonhuman primates can harbour pathogens that might infect humans through zoonotic transmission. The best example of this threat is the origin of human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2. Several nonhuman primate species are endangered and might be in turn at risk of acquiring infection through human contacts, like poliovirus infection. Finally, interesting differences have been described in the degree of susceptibility to different viral agents between New World and Old World primates. For example, up to 40 different simian retroviruses have been identified infecting simians from the Old World but none has been found infecting New World primates. The study of viral infection in nonhuman primates is important for preserving biodiversity as well as to prevent epidemics with a significant impact on human health.

Keywords : Biodiversidad; Evolución; Simios; Virus; Zoonosis.