African Non-Human Primates Host Diverse Enteroviruses.

Illich Manfred Mombo,Christian Drosten,Alexander N Lukashev,Nicolas Berthet,Sebastian Brünink,Jan Felix Drexler,Gael D Maganga,Virginie Rougeron,Vanina Boué,François Renaud,Franck Prugnolle,Barthélémy Ngoubangoye,Larson Boundenga,Tobias Bleicker,Eric Leroy,Benjamin Ollomo,Patrick Durand,Céline Arnathau,Florian Liégeois

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169067

Abstract

Enteroviruses (EVs) belong to the family Picornaviridae and are responsible for mild to severe diseases in mammals including humans and non-human primates (NHP). Simian EVs were first discovered in the 1950s in the Old World Monkeys and recently in wild chimpanzee, gorilla and mandrill in Cameroon. In the present study, we screened by PCR EVs in 600 fecal samples of wild apes and monkeys that were collected at four sites in Gabon. A total of 32 samples were positive for EVs (25 from mandrills, 7 from chimpanzees, none from gorillas). The phylogenetic analysis of VP1 and VP2 genes showed that EVs identified in chimpanzees were members of two human EV species, EV-A and EV-B, and those identified in mandrills were members of the human species EV-B and the simian species EV-J. The identification of two novel enterovirus types, EV-B112 in a chimpanzee and EV-B113 in a mandrill, suggests these NHPs could be potential sources of new EV types. The identification of EV-B107 and EV90 that were previously found in humans indicates cross-species transfers. Also the identification of chimpanzee-derived EV110 in a mandrill demonstrated a wide host range of this EV. Further research of EVs in NHPs would help understanding emergence of new types or variants, and evaluating the real risk of cross-species transmission for humans as well for NHPs populations.

Highlights

Enteroviruses (EVs) are members of the genus Enterovirus belonging to the family Picornaviridae and comprise about 120 established types [1]
Besides the species EV-J and EV-H, some EVs isolated from primates are members of the “human” species EV-A, EV-B, EV-C and EV-D [7,8,9,10,11,12], suggesting that transfers between humans and non-human primates (NHP) are relatively common
Our work showed co-circulation of human and simian EVs in NHPs in Gabon and allowed the characterization of two new EV-B types

Summary

Introduction

Enteroviruses (EVs) are members of the genus Enterovirus belonging to the family Picornaviridae and comprise about 120 established types [1]. With the development of molecular typing [4], EVs are classified into nine species named Enterovirus A to H and Enterovirus J (EV-A to EV-H and EV-J). EVs infecting humans are found in the four species EV-A to EV-D. The simian enteroviruses, commonly found in non-human primates (NHPs), are classified into species EV-J and EV-H [1]. Besides the species EV-J and EV-H, some EVs isolated from primates are members of the “human” species EV-A, EV-B, EV-C and EV-D [7,8,9,10,11,12], suggesting that transfers between humans and NHPs are relatively common

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