Ocular manifestation of simian immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS)

Abstract

The management of opportunistic infections is a significant problem in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the development of more effective chemotherapeutic agents is needed. We present the ocular manifestations of an AIDS-like disease in rhesus monkeys experimentally infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) at the Delta Regional Primate Research Center. These findings consisted of rubeosis in the anterior segment and retinitis, optic neuritis, choroiditis and panophthalmitis in the posterior segment of the eye.

Investigation of the retinas by electron microscopy revealed SIV in both eyes of one animal and a herpes virus in two animals. Serology confirmed cytomegalovirus (CMV) as the likely agent.

This primate model will prove useful for both further investigations of the possible interaction between immunosuppressive lentiviruses and CMV in ocular disease and antiviral drug testing.