title: Identification of rare HIV-1 Group N, HBV AE, and HTLV-3 strains in rural South Cameroon.
abstract: Surveillance of emerging viral variants is critical to ensuring that blood screening and diagnostic tests detect all infections regardless of strain or geographic location. In this study, we conducted serological and molecular surveillance to monitor the prevalence and diversity of HIV, HBV, and HTLV in South Cameroon. The prevalence of HIV was 8.53%, HBV was 10.45%, and HTLV was 1.04% amongst study participants. Molecular characterization of 555 HIV-1 specimens identified incredible diversity, including 7 subtypes, 12 CRFs, 6 unclassified, 24 Group O and 2 Group N infections. Amongst 401 HBV sequences were found a rare HBV AE recombinant and two emerging sub-genotype A strains. In addition to HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 strains, sequencing confirmed the fifth known HTLV-3 infection to date. Continued HIV/HBV/HTLV surveillance and vigilance for newly emerging strains in South Cameroon will be essential to ensure diagnostic tests and research stay a step ahead of these rapidly evolving viruses.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA. Electronic address: mary.rodgers@abbott.com.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vallari
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Holzmayer
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forberg
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kenmenge
authors.affiliation: Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ngansop
authors.affiliation: Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Awazi
authors.affiliation: Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mbanya
authors.affiliation: Université des Montagnes, Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaptue
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cloherty
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndembi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015367:Human T-lymphotropic virus 2 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056187:Human T-lymphotropic virus 3 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: HBV recombinant; HBV sub-genotype A; HIV Group N; HIV Group O; HTLV-3; South Cameroon; Viral surveillance; Virus diversity