Characterization of Enteroviruses from non-human primates in cameroon revealed virus types widespread in humans along with candidate new types and species

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 8; no. 7; p. e3052
• Main Authors: Sadeuh-Mba, Serge Alain, Bessaud, Maël, Joffret, Marie-Line, Endegue Zanga, Marie-Claire, Balanant, Jean, Mpoudi Ngole, Eitel, Njouom, Richard, Reynes, Jean-Marc, Delpeyroux, Francis, Rousset, Dominique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01-07-2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Ape Diseases - epidemiology; Ape Diseases - virology; Biology and Life Sciences; Cameroon - epidemiology; Capsid Proteins - genetics; Chemical properties; Chimpanzees; Coxsackievirus; Disease transmission; Echovirus; Enterovirus - classification; Enterovirus - genetics; Enterovirus - isolation & purification; Enterovirus Infections - veterinary; Enterovirus Infections - virology; Enteroviruses; Feces - virology; Genetic diversity; Genetic Variation; Gorilla gorilla; Gorilla gorilla gorilla; Gorillas; Haplorhini; Health aspects; Life Sciences; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine, Experimental; Microbiology and Parasitology; Molecular Sequence Data; Pan troglodytes; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Primates; Primates - virology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Viral - genetics; RNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Virology; Viruses; Cameroon; Non-Human primate; Cameroon; Enterovirus
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003052

Enteroviruses (EVs) infecting African Non-Human Primates (NHP) are still poorly documented. This study was designed to characterize the genetic diversity of EVs among captive and wild NHP in Cameroon and to compare this diversity with that found in humans. Stool specimens were collected in April 2008 in NHP housed in sanctuaries in Yaounde and neighborhoods. Moreover, stool specimens collected from wild NHP from June 2006 to October 2008 in the southern rain forest of Cameroon were considered. RNAs purified directly from stool samples were screened for EVs using a sensitive RT-nested PCR targeting the VP1 capsid coding gene whose nucleotide sequence was used for molecular typing. Captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) were primarily infected by EV types already reported in humans in Cameroon and elsewhere: Coxsackievirus A13 and A24, Echovirus 15 and 29, and EV-B82. Moreover EV-A119, a novel virus type recently described in humans in central and west Africa, was also found in a captive Chimpanzee. EV-A76, which is a widespread virus in humans, was identified in wild chimpanzees, thus suggesting its adaptation and parallel circulation in human and NHP populations in Cameroon. Interestingly, some EVs harbored by wild NHP were genetically distinct from all existing types and were thus assigned as new types. One chimpanzee-derived virus was tentatively assigned as EV-J121 in the EV-J species. In addition, two EVs from wild monkeys provisionally registered as EV-122 and EV-123 were found to belong to a candidate new species. Overall, this study indicates that the genetic diversity of EVs among NHP is more important than previously known and could be the source of future new emerging human viral diseases.