Guidance on infections associated with simians (monkeys and apes) was first issued by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in 1985 and revised in 1990. Following several outbreaks of a novel strain of Ebola virus in primate colonies in the US and Italy (all in macaques imported from the Philippines), the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), with the full agreement of the MRC, have revised and updated the guidance.
This guidance is aimed at all those working with simians (eg for pharmaceutical research and development, studies on infectious disease, behavioural studies, immunological and cancer research) and only describes those hazards associated with working with simians. It should be seen as a supplement to the ACDP publication Working safely with research animals: Management of infection risks1 which applies to work with all infected or potentially infected animals, including simians.
This guidance does not apply to simians kept in zoos and similar premises, but the underlying principles of COSHH will apply. Further guidance may be obtained from HSE.
CONTENTS
- Preface
- Introduction
- Management of newly imported simians
- Death of newly imported simians
- Working with simians
- Staff health
- Summary statements on particular pathogens of simians
- Simian herpes B virus (Herpesvirus simiae)
- Monkeypox
- Filovirus infections (Ebola and Marburg)
- Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV)
- Rabies
- Appendix 1 The management of exposure to B virus
- Appendix 2 Sources of information and advice
- References
- Further reading