title: New STLV-3 strains and a divergent SIVmus strain identified in non-human primate bushmeat in Gabon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human retroviral infections such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) are the result of simian zoonotic transmissions through handling and butchering of Non-Human Primates (NHP) or by close contact with pet animals. Recent studies on retroviral infections in NHP bushmeat allowed for the identification of numerous Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIV) and Simian T-cell Lymphotropic Viruses (STLV) to which humans are exposed. Nevertheless, today, data on simian retroviruses at the primate/hunter interface remain scarce. We conducted a pilot study on 63 blood and/or tissues samples derived from NHP bushmeat seized by the competent authorities in different locations across the country.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SIV and STLV were detected by antibodies to HIV and HTLV antigens, and PCRs were performed on samples with an HIV or/and HTLV-like or indeterminate profile. Fourteen percent of the samples cross-reacted with HIV antigens and 44% with HTLV antigens. We reported STLV-1 infections in five of the seven species tested. STLV-3 infections, including a new STLV-3 subtype, STLV-1 and -3 co-infections, and triple SIV, STLV-1, STLV-3 infections were observed in red-capped mangabeys (C.torquatus). We confirmed SIV infections by PCR and sequence analyses in mandrills, red-capped mangabeys and showed that mustached monkeys in Gabon are infected with a new SIV strain basal to the SIVgsn/mus/mon lineage that did not fall into the previously described SIVmus lineages reported from the corresponding species in Cameroon. The same monkey (sub)species can thus be carrier of, at least, three distinct SIVs. Overall, the minimal prevalence observed for both STLV and SIV natural infections were 26.9% and 11.1% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, these data, obtained from a restricted sampling, highlight the need for further studies on simian retroviruses in sub-Saharan Africa to better understand their evolutionary history and to document SIV strains to which humans are exposed. We also show that within one species, a high genetic diversity may exist for SIVs and STLVs and observe a high genetic diversity in the SIVgsn/mon/mus lineage, ancestor of HIV-1/SIVcpz/SIVgor.
authors.affiliation: UMI 233, «Trans VIH MI», Recherches Translationnelles sur le VIH et les Maladies Infectieuses Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier, France. florian.liegeois@ird.fr
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liégeois
authors.forename: Vanina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boué
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouacha
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butel
authors.forename: Bertrand Mve
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ondo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pourrut
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D011323:Primates / Q000145:classification; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D056185:Simian T-lymphotropic virus 3 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*