title: Molecular epidemiology of simian immunodeficiency virus infection in wild-living gorillas.
abstract: Chimpanzees and gorillas are the only nonhuman primates known to harbor viruses closely related to HIV-1. Phylogenetic analyses showed that gorillas acquired the simian immunodeficiency virus SIVgor from chimpanzees, and viruses from the SIVcpz/SIVgor lineage have been transmitted to humans on at least four occasions, leading to HIV-1 groups M, N, O, and P. To determine the geographic distribution, prevalence, and species association of SIVgor, we conducted a comprehensive molecular epidemiological survey of wild gorillas in Central Africa. Gorilla fecal samples were collected in the range of western lowland gorillas (n = 2,367) and eastern Grauer gorillas (n = 183) and tested for SIVgor antibodies and nucleic acids. SIVgor antibody-positive samples were identified at 2 sites in Cameroon, with no evidence of infection at 19 other sites, including 3 in the range of the Eastern gorillas. In Cameroon, based on DNA and microsatellite analyses of a subset of samples, we estimated the prevalence of SIVgor to be 1.6% (range, 0% to 4.6%), which is significantly lower than the prevalence of SIVcpzPtt in chimpanzees (5.9%; range, 0% to 32%). All newly identified SIVgor strains formed a monophyletic lineage within the SIVcpz radiation, closely related to HIV-1 groups O and P, and clustered according to their field site of origin. At one site, there was evidence for intergroup transmission and a high intragroup prevalence. These isolated hot spots of SIVgor-infected gorilla communities could serve as a source for human infection. The overall low prevalence and sporadic distribution of SIVgor could suggest a decline of SIVgor in wild populations, but it cannot be excluded that SIVgor is still more prevalent in other parts of the geographical range of gorillas.
authors.affiliation: UMR 145, Institute of Research and Development and University of Montpellier 1, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neel
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takehisa
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rudicell
authors.forename: Innocent Ndong
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moudindo
authors.forename: Aimé
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebenga
authors.forename: Amandine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Heuverswyn
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liegeois
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kranzusch
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Crickette M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Jean-Bosco N
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ndjango
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Plantier
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gonder
authors.forename: Fabian H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Leendertz
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boesch
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
authors.forename: Eitel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mpoudi-Ngole
authors.forename: Beatrice H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral