[NHCOLL-L:1989] Re: Infections contracted from Museum specimens

[Sean Barry]

On Wed, 9 Jul 2003, Clare Valentine wrote:

>
> Has anyone ever heard from colleagues either in the UK or abroad of a
> museum professional being infected by human pathogens from specimens? We
> are  particularly interested in any incidents involving prepared specimens
> lodged in the collections (mammal/vertebrate or even invertebrate
> material).  Or indeed if you know of any examples of infections contracted
> from bush-meat or unprepared specimens.  Even a negative response
> of  "never heard of any such instances" - would also be much appreciated!

One of the rare human cases of the neural virus Herpes B (aka Herpes
simiae, aka Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1) is said to have been contracted
by someone who prepared a skull from an infected macaque (I don't know if
it was a museum professional).  Recent advances in antiviral therapy have
reduced the human infection rate from this virus, but mortality in people
with advanced infection is almost 100%.  Most cases have arisen from bites
(to animal handlers in primate colonies), but some have come from
trans-ocular infection by aerosolized primate saliva and there has been at
least one human-to-human infection.  Death from Herpes B infection in
humans is particularly gruesome (the worst kind of encephalopathy).  Even
in monkeys herpesvirus was formerly thought to be relatively rare, but it
seems that most macaques are seropositive for antibody so infection should
be assumed in all of them.  I'd be very cautious about handling any fresh
or frozen macaque material, especially neural tissues.  Necropsies on
suspected infected animals in primate centers are typically performed at
biohazard 2 precaution level (full personal protective gear, inside a
biosafety enclosure).

Sean Barry