Pet Monkey Bites IRS Agent

[matcom]

<snip>

A pet monkey that weighs ten to twelve pounds, in Rankin County, attacked an IRS Agent last Tuesday. The Macatue monkey, which is at least seven years old and came from Japan is now locked in a secure cage in Rankin County.

Sheriff Ronnie Pennington confirmed the attack and said the owner of the monkey was given a citation for having a wild animal in captivity. The monkey is being tested for disease and will eventually be turned over to the Animal Rescue League. It's canine teeth have been removed, according to the Sheriff. Pennington will who not release the name of the owner of the monkey or the IRS agent.

The agent was treated for scratches and bites on her face and arms.

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6433184&nav=2CSf

[slj0101]

1. THIS AUDIT HAS BECOME TIRESOME!!!

[dropkickpa]

2. It's macaque

And herpes simiae B is no joke. Let's hope the monkey tests clean, that shit is fatal in humans (yet another reason for me to NEVER have a pet monkey).

Primates are NOT suitable as pets. I hate the exotic pet trade business, and idiots like WackoJacko and Paris making people think these animals can be pets. It's not fair to the animals. These animals often end up euthanized because as they mature and get older, they become dangerous and usually cause an injury.

[lizerdbits]

10. I hope the agent is being given antivirals as a precaution

Not sure what they usually give for potential B virus exposure.

[dropkickpa]

13. Should get antivirals ASAP

But other than vigorous wound cleansing immediately, nothing else does anything. B virus is present in 80-100% of the captive macaque population. B virus kills 79% of people who become symptomatic, and the survivors end up with moderate to severe neurological damage, most ending up institutionalized.

Nope, don't want no monkey for a pet, nuh-uh, no way. :thumbsdown:

[lizerdbits]

16. A client where I used to work claimed he was infected

I used to do lab animal diagnostics. A man who worked at a primate supplier was working with NHPs when he was 15 and at the time there were little safety precautions (I'd guess now you'd have to be at least 18 but this was probably 30 years ago). He was bitten/scratched and received no treatment until he was really ill and hospitalized. Apparently he consults with Dr. Hilliard (sp?) the B virus guru on a regular basis and supplies positive serum for diagnostics. So he says anyway. Apparently he's fine now, not sure if it requires long term antivirals.

I wouldn't even take an SPF colony monkey for a pet- they can be infected without seroconverting so antibody tests are negative. And they still throw poop!

[dropkickpa]

17. Wow

He is REALLY lucky. They must have been able to get it into dormancy, though there is always a chance it'll flare up (just like people herpes). Dr. Hilliard knows us well, let me tell you.

They are now suspicious that B virus my be turning up in some new world monkey colonies because of co-housing. Scary thought!

[lizerdbits]

18. That was always a concern with our old scientific director

The co housing. Most of what we tested were macaques but we would occasionally get some squirrel monkeys or marmosets. Do you know how much cross reactivity there is in antibodies (I did mostly ELISA but some Western blots too) between other herpes viruses like herpes saimiri or SA8? I think some places were using herpes virus papio 2 as an alternative to B virus for diagnostic since one paper showed it to be cross reactive in 98% of the time in their experiments and didn't require higher biosafety for producing antigen. I wonder if you wanted to narrow it down you'd have to run PCR. Might be harder with B virus, doesn't it hang out in the ganglia or something? Not sure about where the other viruses are found when dormant.
Not sure what your area of work is but you said said Dr. Hilliard knew you well so I thought I'd ask. :)

[dropkickpa]

24. LOL

She knows us well from the number of post-exposure samples we send her, we had a ridiculous amount of exposures last year, and this year looks like it's gearing up to be the same. What's sad is it is mostly all the same investigative group, their lab manager/main handler is a complete twit. Not only does she endanger herself, she endangers everyone in the lab when she trains their people.

B virus goes into dormancy in the sensory ganglia. I do know that PCR is the test of choice because of the lowered risk to lab personnel, specificity, and speed of testing (they have an assay they developed that has been 100% sensitive in detection and beats out viral culture methods, pretty exciting stuff).

Now if only we could convince people that monkeys aren't our "friends". A couple exposures happened when monks pretended to be all gentle and friendly and then WHAM! gotcha! These animals are smart enough to figure out ways to fool us, they need to be given that respect.

Of course, nothing is scarier than a 5kg bunny at eye level charging you (I am NOT a fan of bunnies).

[TZ]

25. Aww if you knew "Doc" you would like bunnies

"Doc" was one of our groups lab rabbits a HUGE rabbit but really sweet personality.:)

[dropkickpa]

28. We've had a couple like that

Mabel, Mr. Stoney, Louise. They all ended up getting adopted, I just don't really like bunnies (am also violently allergic).

I love my ratties and mice though. I have one rat right now named Birdie (she chirps when I come into the room). She's a stay til she dies rat, so she gets special treatment, she just hangs out and gets weighed once a week, bloodwork once month. She loves popcorn and tummy scratches, and she gets plenty from us.

[lizerdbits]

26. I joke that I want to take one home but of course never would try

One of the ones we have here reached through a cage and completely ripped the smock off a caretaker when she got too close but there were no injuries to her. There was other PPE under the smock too and that wasn't ripped. I've only been in the animal rooms a few times but they will hiss and lunge (thought they had just been sedated and moved the day before and I was told that makes them even more aggressive)- what would posses someone to honestly think that would be a good pet? If I'm nice to it, it won't act like that?

Sounds like this handler you're referring to needs some additional training herself unless she's one of those "I know what I'm supposed to do but just don't bother" types. We've got a monkey bite treatment kit that from what I'm told has to have things replaced when they expire due to lack of use.

[dropkickpa]

27. She's exactly like that!

She just refuses to believe they're not her friends. Idiot.

Some of my co-workers have adopted bunnies and they say they're great, but I am not a bunny person.

[TZ]

21. Was that the pain in the ass simian client?

Or am I thinking of someone else...can you give me initials?

[lizerdbits]

22. Nope

I guess you're referring to M.

[TZ]

23. I think so.

I just don't remember whom you are talking about at the moment. Could be the sedative perhaps:)

[TZ]

11. as lizerdbits also knows I will chime in again and say

Herpes B is scary! People should never own monkeys there are also much WORSE things monkeys can have....:hide:

[dropkickpa]

14. Oh yeah

Funky monkeys!!

[aljones]

3. they stoled that poor monkey's teeth?

poor, poor monkey.....

[underpants]

4. Jasper!!!

:bounce:

[matcom]

6. I was hoping you were gonna post that

:rofl:

[underpants]

7. Jasper could and would do it

Jasper is a bad ass

:bounce:

[matcom]

8. he is the James Dean of Primates

:applause:

[underpants]

9. Yeah but I wonder how well Jasper can drive

[BarenakedLady]

5. "Touch my monkey!"

:P

[Joe Fields]

12. The monkey should have slung some crap at the agent.

[MilesColtrane]

15. Cheney should really keep that thing on a leash. n/t

[arbusto_baboso]

19. They better check that monkey.

You know, to make sure it hasn't caught any nasty diseases from the IRS agent. :evilgrin:

[HuffleClaw]

20. furious george ? n/t