Emergence of a novel and highly divergent HTLV-3 in a primate hunter in Cameroon.
The recent discovery of human T-lymphotropic virus type 3 (HTLV-3) in Cameroon highlights the importance of expanded surveillance to better understand the prevalence and public health impact of this new retrovirus. HTLV diversity was investigated in 408 persons in rural Cameroon who reported simian exposures. Plasma from 29 persons (7.2%) had reactive serology. HTLV tax sequences were detected in 3 persons. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed HTLV-1 infection in two individuals and HTLV-3 infection in a third person (Cam2013AB). The complete proviral genome from Cam2013AB shared 98% identity and clustered tightly in distinct lineage with simian T-lymphotropic virus type 3 (STLV-3) subtype D recently identified in two guenon monkeys near this person's village. These results document a fourth HTLV-3 infection with a new and highly divergent strain we designate HTLV-3 (Cam2013AB) subtype D demonstrating the existence of a broad HTLV-3 diversity likely originating from multiple zoonotic transmissions of divergent STLV-3.
Zheng
HaoQiang
H
Laboratory Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Wolfe
Nathan D
ND
Sintasath
David M
DM
Tamoufe
Ubald
U
Lebreton
Matthew
M
Djoko
Cyrille F
CF
Diffo
Joseph Le Doux
Jle D
Pike
Brian L
BL
Heneine
Walid
W
Switzer
William M
WM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000821:virology; D056187:Human T-lymphotropic virus 3 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D055815:Young Adult
D016356:Gene Products, tax