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Simian Virology was published by Wiley-Blackwell in 2009 and written by Alexander F. Voevodin and Preston A. Marx, Jr. Voevodin and Marx are professors of Virology and Tropical Medicine, respectively. The text is designed to be useful for both the scientific and medical communities as well as students interested in advanced virology study of nonhuman primates as a source for information on all identified simian viruses to date.
The text begins with Part I: Introduction to Primatology and Virology. The complicated classification of nonhuman primates is reviewed for the novice, concentrating on the simian part of the family tree. The simians are divided amongst Old World and New World monkeys. Many charts and tables are provided to explain scientific names, common names, and geographic distribution of each category of monkey. Both Old and New World monkeys are discussed in further detail throughout the chapter including such information as species characteristic features, usefulness in the biomedical field, and common viral associations with the species. Additional tables, diagrams, black and white photographs, and extensive reference lists compliment the text. A simplistic introduction to virology concludes Part I, focusing on the fundamental concepts needed to delve deeper into simian virology in Part 2.
Part 2: Simian Viruses and Nonhuman Primate Models of Viral Infections comprises the bulk of the text. Both RNA and DNA viruses are organized in separate sections with each chapter discussing a distinct viral family. Basic information on viral taxonomy, prevalence, virulence, and common host information such as diagnosis and treatment are discussed as well as additional reference lists. Animal reservoirs of human disease are explored and their mutations theorized. One of the more infamous and extensively studied viruses, the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, for example, spans several chapters and provide research data derived from human studies assessing both SIV and HIV infections.
Herpesviruses are the second most studied nonhuman primate virus category which include simplexviruses, varicelloviruses, and cytomegaloviruses. Herpesviruses can often lay dormant in the natural host causing no apparent harm until circumstances predispose the virus to reactivate such as immune suppression. Infection in an atypical host often increases the pathogenicity of the herpesviruses, therefore, notable features and species reactions are explored throughout the chapters when this occurs. The lymphocryptovirus (LCV) of nonhuman primates is similar in characteristics to the human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a virus which is latent in nearly every adult human. Some of the data on LCV has been extrapolated or extended from comprehensive studies on the EBV in humans as they both share a number of similar characteristics.
Simian Virology is a thorough review of the known viruses affecting nonhuman primates and includes an interesting and thoughtful discussion of nonhuman primate disease models, for both nonhuman primates and human diseases. It is a well organized book utilizing viral taxonomy for its structure. Understandable charts, clearly labeled diagrams, photos, and photomicrographs aid in the presentation of data. The authors have written a useful, comprehensive text for both the advanced science and medical personnel as well as the student with interest in simian virology. It is available as a hardcover text, available through E-books, and an Android app for additional functionality.
Sandra L. Jex is a veterinarian and consultant.