Identification in gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) of a distinct simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type 3 with a broad range of Western blot reactivity.
Antibodies to simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV) were found in serum or plasma from 12 of 23 (52.2 %) gelada baboons (Theropithecus gelada) captive in US zoos. A variety of Western blot (WB) profiles was seen in the 12 seroreactive samples, including human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1-like (n=5, 41.7 %), HTLV-2-like (n=1, 8.3 %), HTLV-untypable (n=4, 33.3 %) and indeterminate (n=2, 16.6 %) profiles. Phylogenetic analysis of tax or env sequences that had been PCR amplified from peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA available from nine seropositive geladas showed that four were infected with identical STLV-1s; these sequences clustered with STLV-1 from Celebes macaques and probably represent recent cross-species infections. The tax sequences from the five remaining geladas were also identical and clustered with STLV-3. Analysis of the complete STLV-3 genome (8917 bp) from one gelada, TGE-2117, revealed that it is unique, sharing only 62 % similarity with HTLV-1/ATK and HTLV-2/Mo. STLV-3/TGE-2117 was closest genetically to STLV-3 from an Eritrean baboon (STLV-3/PH969, 95.6 %) but more distant from STLV-3s from red-capped mangabeys from Cameroon and Nigeria (STLV-3/CTO-604, 87.7 %, and STLV-3/CTO-NG409, 87.2 %, respectively) and Senegalese baboons (STLV-3/PPA-F3, 88.4 %). The genetic relatedness of STLV-3/TGE-2117 to STLV-3 was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of a concatenated gag-pol-env-tax sequence (6795 bp). An ancient origin of 73 628-109 809 years ago for STLV-3 was estimated by molecular clock analysis of third-codon positions of gag-pol-env-tax sequences. LTR sequences from five STLV-3-positive geladas were >99 % identical and clustered with that from a Papio anubisxP. hamadryas hybrid Ethiopian baboon, suggesting a common source of STLV-3 in these sympatric animals. LTR sequences obtained 20 years apart from a mother-infant pair were identical, providing evidence of both mother-to-offspring transmission and a high genetic stability of STLV-3. Since STLV-3-infected primates show a range of HTLV-like WB profiles and have an ancient origin, further studies using STLV-3-specific testing are required to determine whether STLV-3 infects humans, especially in regions of Africa where STLV-3 is endemic.
Van Dooren
Sonia
S
Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Shanmugam
Vedapuri
V
HIV and Retrovirology Branch, Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-19, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Bhullar
Vinod
V
HIV and Retrovirology Branch, Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-19, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Parekh
Bharat
B
HIV Immunology and Diagnostics Branch, Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-19, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Vandamme
Anne-Mieke
AM
Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Heneine
Walid
W
HIV and Retrovirology Branch, Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-19, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Switzer
William M
WM
HIV and Retrovirology Branch, Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-19, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000821:virology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000032:analysis; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000032:analysis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D030282:Primate T-lymphotropic virus 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D016671:Theropithecus / Q000821:virology*; D014481:United States
D015686:Gene Products, env; D016356:Gene Products, tax