Detection of antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae and Herpesvirus hominis in nonhuman primates.

Sera from nonhuman primates, predominantly Macaca species, were assayed by a serum neutralization test for antibodies to antigenically related Herpesvirus simiae (B virus) and Herpesvirus hominis type 1. The data indicate that there would have been approximately 50% error in the diagnosis of Herpesvirus simiae infection if these sera had been tested only against Herpesvirus hominis antigen. The role of active guinea pig complement in the serum neutralization test was also evaluated and found to be required by many of the sera for reproducible and enhanced virus neutralization, particularly for B virus antibody determination. A plaque reduction assay was found to be highly sensitive, especially when complement (2.5-5.0 hemolytic units) was added, but impractical for large-scale serum surveys.