The evidence of Coxsackievirus B3 induced myocarditis as the cause of death in a Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana).

BACKGROUND

A 5-year-old female Sichuan snub-nosed monkey died at the zoological garden from infection with coxsackievirus B3.

METHODS

The diagnosis was made on the basis of pathologic features, immunohistochemistry, microbiological detection, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

Histologic examination of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues revealed a severe degree of predominantly lymphocytic infiltration of the cardiac muscle. Picornaviridae-like virions were found in the supernatants of cardiac muscle tissues homogenates, in the pericardial fluid, and in Vero cell cultures, by electron microscopy. Coxsackievirus B3 particles were detected in cardiac muscle cells by immunofluorescence. RT-PCR performed on an extract of cardiac muscle tissue revealed a DNA sequence specific for coxsackievirus B3.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of a Sichuan snub-nosed monkey dying from a virus.