title: High Prevalences and a Wide Genetic Diversity of Simian Retroviruses in Non-human Primate Bushmeat in Rural Areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: Like the majority of emerging infectious diseases, HIV and HTLV are of zoonotic origin. Here we assess the risk of cross-species transmissions of their simian counterparts, SIV and STLV, from non-human primates (NHP) to humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A total of 331 samples, derived from NHP bushmeat, were collected as dried blood spots (DBS, n = 283) or as tissue samples (n = 36) at remote forest sites mainly in northern and eastern DRC. SIV antibody prevalences in DBS were estimated with a novel high throughput immunoassay with antigens representing the actual known diversity of HIV/SIV lineages. Antibody-positive samples were confirmed by PCR and sequence analysis. Screening for STLV infection was done with universal primers in tax, and new strains were further characterized in LTR. SIV and STLV infection in tissue samples was done by PCR only. Overall, 5 and 15.4% of NHP bushmeat was infected with SIV and STLV, respectively. A new SIV lineage was identified in Allen's swamp monkeys (Allenopithecus nigroviridis). Three new STLV-1 subtypes were identified in Allen's swamp monkeys (Allenopithecus nigroviridis), blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), red-tailed guenons (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti) and agile mangabeys (Cercocebus agilis). SIV and STLV prevalences varied according to species and geographic region. Our study illustrates clearly, even on a small sample size from a limited number of geographic areas, that our knowledge on the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of simian retroviruses is still limited and that humans continue to be exposed to relative high proportions on infected NHP bushmeat.
authors.affiliation: UMI 233 TransVIHMI/INSERM1175, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 1, France.|Institut National de Recherche Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|Service de Microbiologie, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Ahuka-Mundeke
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Steve
authors.affiliation: UMI 233 TransVIHMI/INSERM1175, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 1, France.
authors.forename: Ayouba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahidjo
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Recherche Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|Service de Microbiologie, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Mbala-Kingebeni
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Placide
authors.affiliation: UMI 233 TransVIHMI/INSERM1175, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 1, France.
authors.forename: Foncelle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caroline
authors.affiliation: Institut Supérieur de Techniques Médicales de Walikale, Walikale, Nord Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Mubonga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukulumanya
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Recherche Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Ndimbo-Kumugo
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Simon-Pierre
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Recherche Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|Service de Microbiologie, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Lunguya-Metila
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Octavie
authors.affiliation: Projet Lac Tumba, WWF, Malebo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
authors.forename: Mbenzo-Abokome
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valentin
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Recherche Biomédicales, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.|Service de Microbiologie, Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Muyembe-Tamfum
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jean-Jacques
authors.affiliation: UMI 233 TransVIHMI/INSERM1175, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 1, France.
authors.forename: Delaporte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eric
authors.affiliation: UMI 233 TransVIHMI/INSERM1175, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394, Montpellier, Cedex 1, France. martine.peeters@ird.fr.
authors.forename: Peeters
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D011323:Primates / Q000821:virology*; D015301:Retroviruses, Simian / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Bushmeat; Democratic Republic of Congo; Non-human primate; Retrovirus; SIV; STLV