An epizootic of measles in captive silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) in Malaysia

An epizootic of measles occurred in a group of 31 silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) that had been in captivity for 4-12 months. Twenty-four of the monkeys exhibited a maculopapular rash that persisted for 6-9 days. A serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge and conjunctivitis were seen in some animals. Eight monkeys died during the epizootic; however, their deaths could not be directly attributed to measles. Serum samples from the surviving monkeys collected 1-2 months prior to, and 5 weeks after, the epizootic were examined by the complement-fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition tests for antibodies to measles virus. The preepizootic complement-fixation titers were all less than 1:4 and hemagglutination-inhibition titers, less than 1:10. The postepizootic complement-fixation titers in 21 of 23 surviving monkeys ranged from 1:8 to 1:128, and hemagglutination-inhibition titers in 22 of 23 monkeys ranged from 1:40 to 1:80 or greater.