Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV): An overlooked threat to primates

Abstract

Many emerging zoonotic viruses pose major risks to animal and human health, with most recent epidemics of viral origin. This review focuses on encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a member of the Picornaviridae family and the Cardiovirus genus with significant but largely underrecognized zoonotic potential. While EMCV has not yet caused major public health crises, its broad host range and rodent reservoir suggest a wider ecological impact. It is typically detected only during high-fatality outbreaks, particularly in domestic animals and non-human primates (NHPs), which are among the most vulnerable hosts. Multiple fatal outbreaks in captive and semi-captive NHPs have been documented. Human infections appear rare, yet the prevalence of antibodies suggests widespread exposure. EMCV remains largely absent from diagnostic panels and its epidemiology is poorly understood. We argue that EMCV warrants much closer attention due to its ability to cause severe disease in NHPs and its potential risk to humans. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, epidemiology, pathogenicity, diagnosis, and prevention of EMCV in primates.