green monkeys

green monkeys

Any of several African monkeys of the genus Cercopithecus . Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) are the closest known relatives of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and these have been isolated from green monkeys and other primates. 20% to 50% of green monkeys in their native habitat harbour the virus, but it is by no means established that this was the origin of AIDS. An SIV with an even closer genetic sequence has been found in a chimpanzee.