Identification of 3 novel herpesviruses in prosimians with lymphoproliferative disease

Abstract

Although many studies have characterized catarrhine and platyrrhine primate herpesviruses, little is known about herpesviruses in prosimians. We aimed to identify and characterize herpesviruses in prosimians with proliferative lymphocytic disease. DNA was extracted from tissues of 9 gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) and 3 pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) with lymphoproliferative lesions, and we performed nested PCR and sequencing for detection of herpesviruses and polyomaviruses. We identified 3 novel herpesviruses and performed phylogenetic analyses to characterize their relationship with other herpesviruses. A gray mouse lemur herpesvirus clustered with other primate herpesviruses within the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae, just basal to the genus Cytomegalovirus. The other gray mouse lemur herpesvirus and the pygmy slow loris herpesvirus clustered within the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, although the relationships within the subfamily were less resolved. Quantitative PCR assays were developed for the 2 new gray mouse lemur viruses, providing specific, faster, less expensive, and quantitative detection tools. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between the presence of these viruses and the severity or presence of lymphoproliferative lesions in prosimians.

Keywords: Cheirogaleidae; Lorisidae; Orthoherpesviridae; PCR; lymphoproliferative disorders; prosimians.

Figure 1.

Bayesian phylogenetic tree of homologous partial herpesvirus DNA–dependent DNA polymerase predicted amino acid sequences. Iguanid herpesvirus 2 (GenBank AY236869) was designated as the outgroup. Bayesian posterior probabilities of branching as percentages are shown at nodes. GenBank accessions are given after virus names. Brackets demarcate genera, and arrows indicate viruses identified in our study.