U.S. zoos with lion-tailed macaques

[Coelacanth18]

When handling this species how do keepers keep themselves safe from the herpes virus that so many of them carry?

My assumption would be that most zoos don't handle them unless there's a medical reason, and then they can use gloves and face masks.

Herpes B virus is a seriously dangerous disease, but the probability of transmission is very low and can be avoided with simple precautions. It's no different than keeping other poisonous/venomous/dangerous animals, there's always some risk involved. Now, thanks to the overreactions about the disease entire populations of macaques have crashed in North America, most beyond repair.

 

[elefante]

My assumption would be that most zoos don't handle them unless there's a medical reason, and then they can use gloves and face masks.

Herpes B virus is a seriously dangerous disease, but the probability of transmission is very low and can be avoided with simple precautions. It's no different than keeping other poisonous/venomous/dangerous animals, there's always some risk involved. Now, thanks to the overreactions about the disease entire populations of macaques have crashed in North America, most beyond repair.

I never thought of it like keeping venomous species. Do all macaques carry this disease?

 

[Coelacanth18]

I never thought of it like keeping venomous species. Do all macaques carry this disease?

It is the simian equivalent of human herpes, the kind that causes cold sores and is normally benign. I think it's well-established in captive populations, but I don't know for sure.

 

[elefante]

It is the simian equivalent of human herpes, the kind that causes cold sores and is normally benign. I think it's well-established in captive populations, but I don't know for sure.

If it's normally benign why is here so much panic over it?

 

[Coelacanth18]

If it's normally benign why is here so much panic over it?

It's normally benign in the monkeys. In humans, the simian strain causes a form of meningoencephalitis, which is usually fatal (about 70% mortality rate).