title: Multiple retroviral infection by HTLV type 1, 2, 3 and simian foamy virus in a family of Pygmies from Cameroon.
abstract: To better understand the origins and modes of transmission of HTLV-3 and to search for other retroviral infections (HTLV-1, HTLV-2, foamy viruses), we studied the family of a HTLV-3-infected individual (Pyl43), from Cameroon. Thirty-five persons were included. All adult men were still actively hunting nonhuman primates (NHP). All women were also butchering and cutting-up animals. Five persons reported a bite by an NHP. While HTLV-3 infection was only found in Pyl43, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infections were found, respectively, in 5 and 9 persons with one being co-infected by both retroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis suggested intra-familial transmission of HTLV-1 subtypes B and D and HTLV-2. One man was infected by a chimpanzee foamy virus, acquired probably 45 years ago, through a bite. Acquisition of retroviral infections still occurs in central Africa involving to various extent not only intra-familial transmission for HTLV-1/HTLV-2 but also direct interspecies transmission from NHP for foamy virus and possibly for HTLV-1 and HTLV-3.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Epidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, URA CNRS 3015, Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris, Cedex 15, France. scalatt@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calattini
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Betsem
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassot
authors.forename: Sébastien Alain
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tortevoye
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Njouom
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahieux
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Froment
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gessain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010375:Pedigree; D010802:Phylogeny; D030261:Primate T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030263:Primate T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030282:Primate T-lymphotropic virus 3 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D053150:Simian foamy virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult