B-Virus
Cercopithecine Herpesvirus-1, also known as B-Virus, is a member of the herpes group of viruses that occurs naturally in Macaque monkeys and possible in other Old World monkeys. Infection with B-Virus produces very mild disease in the monkey. Most have no obvious evidence of infection. Some monkeys may have vesicles (small blisters) which progress to ulcers in the mouth, on the face, lips, or genitals and/or eye. These lesions spontaneously heal after a few days, but the virus resides permanently in the monkey, and may reactivate and cause ulcerative lesions periodically. These relapses are especially likely to occur when the monkey is "stressed" (like cold sores or fever blisters in humans). During these periods, the virus is shed by the monkey to the environment. However, the virus may also be shed by monkeys without visible lesions or symptoms.