Which non-human primate disease is monitored with testing every six months due to its zoonotic potential?

Which non-human primate disease is monitored with testing every six months due to its zoonotic potential?

• A. Herpes B virus
• B. Tuberculosis
• C. Measles
• D. Bloat

Answer: (B)

Tuberculosis is the disease that prompts regular six-month testing in non-human primate programs because it can be spread to humans and often resides in animals in a latent state. Primate colonies can harbor Mycobacterium tuberculosis without obvious signs, so frequent surveillance helps catch new infections early, allowing quick isolation and treatment to protect staff and other animals. The testing is typically done with tuberculin skin tests or blood-based interferon-gamma release assays, chosen for their ability to detect infection even before illness develops. This proactive, semiannual cadence reflects the significant occupational risk and the need to maintain a TB-free colony. Herpes B virus is also a serious zoonotic threat, but the routine testing cadence is not universally defined as every six months in the same way; measles is chiefly controlled through vaccination and outbreak management rather than ongoing six-month animal testing; bloat is a noninfectious condition and not part of zoonotic surveillance.

Tuberculosis is the disease that prompts regular six-month testing in non-human primate programs because it can be spread to humans and often resides in animals in a latent state. Primate colonies can harbor Mycobacterium tuberculosis without obvious signs, so frequent surveillance helps catch new infections early, allowing quick isolation and treatment to protect staff and other animals. The testing is typically done with tuberculin skin tests or blood-based interferon-gamma release assays, chosen for their ability to detect infection even before illness develops. This proactive, semiannual cadence reflects the significant occupational risk and the need to maintain a TB-free colony.

Herpes B virus is also a serious zoonotic threat, but the routine testing cadence is not universally defined as every six months in the same way; measles is chiefly controlled through vaccination and outbreak management rather than ongoing six-month animal testing; bloat is a noninfectious condition and not part of zoonotic surveillance.