The rhesus lymphocryptovirus (rhesus LCV, RLV, Cercopithecine HV 15) is a gamma-1 herpesvirus in the same genus as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Its genetic structure has been fully sequenced and found to be highly homologous with that of EBV (65%). The structural proteins are highly conserved, while genes expressed during EBV latent infection are much less well conserved. Even in cases where genes have low homology, the rLCV infection genes are functionally interchangeable with EBV genes. In nature, RLV infects rhesus macaques. RLV infection in rhesus monkeys resembles EBV infection in humans in several respects:
- oral transmission,
- atypical lymphocytosis,
- lymphadenopathy,
- activation of CD23+ peripheral blood B cells,
- sustained serologic responses to lytic and latent EBV antigens,
- latent infection in the peripheral blood, and
- virus persistence in oropharyngeal secretions.
These features make the rhesus lymphocryptovirus potentially useful for studying the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of EBV infection and associated oncogenesis.