Fatal herpesvirus infection in patas monkeys and a black and white colobus monkey.

Fatal herpesvirus infections were diagnosed in 3 patas monkeys and 1 black and white colobus monkey over a 4-week period. Herpesvirus was isolated from 1 patas monkey and from the black and white colobus monkey. Both isolates had growth characteristics similar to Herpesvirus hominis and Herpesvirus simiae. The isolate from the colobus monkey antigenically appeared to be H simiae or H simiae-like, whereas the isolate from the patas monkey could not be conclusively identified with the antisera used. All affected animals were housed in close proximity to rhesus monkeys, the carrier host of H simiae.