Distribution of three arbovirus antibodies among monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in the Philippines

Serum samples from 54 monkeys were collected from healthy individuals in a monkey farm in Luzon island, Philippines, in 1999, and examined by IgM-capture ELISA and indirect IgG ELISA for the presence of dengue (DEN), Japanese encephalitis (JE) and chikungunya (CHIK) viruses. The positive rates for IgM ELISA were 3.7, 35.2 and 14.8% against DEN, JE and CHIK, respectively. Higher positive rates were obtained when indirect IgG ELISA was used: 100% against flaviviruses (JE or DEN) and 59.3% against CHIK virus. The results indicate a high prevalence of flavivirus infections such as JE and DEN, and a lesser prevalence of CHIK virus infections, among monkeys in the Philippines. These findings suggest possible sylvatic transmission cycles of these viruses.