Serological evidence of Zika virus infection in non-human primates in Zambia

Arch Virol. 2019 Aug;164(8):2165-2170. doi: 10.1007/s00705-019-04302-0. Epub 2019 Jun 1.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) circulation occurs between non-human primates (NHPs) in a sylvatic transmission cycle. To investigate evidence of flavivirus infection in NHPs in Zambia, we performed a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) to quantify neutralizing antibodies. PRNT revealed that sera from NHPs (African green monkeys and baboons) exhibited neutralizing activity against ZIKV (34.4%; 33/96), whereas a PRNT for yellow fever virus using NHP sera showed no neutralization activity. ZIKV genomic RNA was not detected in splenic tissues from NHPs, suggesting that the presence of anti-ZIKV neutralizing antibodies represented resolved infections. Our evidence suggests that ZIKV is maintained in NHP reservoirs in Zambia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Cross Reactions / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Flavivirus Infections / immunology
  • Flavivirus Infections / virology
  • Primates
  • Serologic Tests / methods
  • Zambia
  • Zika Virus / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral