Characterization of Enteroviruses from non-human primates in cameroon revealed virus types widespread in humans along with candidate new types and species.

Serge Alain Sadeuh-Mba,Maël Bessaud,Jean Balanant,Richard Njouom,Francis Delpeyroux,Jean-Marc Reynes,Marie-Claire Endegue Zanga,Dominique Rousset,Eitel Mpoudi Ngole,Marie-Line Joffret

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003052

Abstract

Enteroviruses (EVs) infecting African Non-Human Primates (NHP) are still poorly documented. This study was designed to characterize the genetic diversity of EVs among captive and wild NHP in Cameroon and to compare this diversity with that found in humans. Stool specimens were collected in April 2008 in NHP housed in sanctuaries in Yaounde and neighborhoods. Moreover, stool specimens collected from wild NHP from June 2006 to October 2008 in the southern rain forest of Cameroon were considered. RNAs purified directly from stool samples were screened for EVs using a sensitive RT-nested PCR targeting the VP1 capsid coding gene whose nucleotide sequence was used for molecular typing. Captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) were primarily infected by EV types already reported in humans in Cameroon and elsewhere: Coxsackievirus A13 and A24, Echovirus 15 and 29, and EV-B82. Moreover EV-A119, a novel virus type recently described in humans in central and west Africa, was also found in a captive Chimpanzee. EV-A76, which is a widespread virus in humans, was identified in wild chimpanzees, thus suggesting its adaptation and parallel circulation in human and NHP populations in Cameroon. Interestingly, some EVs harbored by wild NHP were genetically distinct from all existing types and were thus assigned as new types. One chimpanzee-derived virus was tentatively assigned as EV-J121 in the EV-J species. In addition, two EVs from wild monkeys provisionally registered as EV-122 and EV-123 were found to belong to a candidate new species. Overall, this study indicates that the genetic diversity of EVs among NHP is more important than previously known and could be the source of future new emerging human viral diseases.

Highlights

Enteroviruses (EVs), in the Picornaviridae family, form a diversified genus infecting numerous mammalian species including humans, Non-Human Primates (NHP), sheeps, cows and pigs [1,2]
We investigated the diversity of EV types and species from the stool specimens obtained from captive and wild-living apes and monkeys in Cameroon
We found that captive chimpanzees and gorillas were primarily infected by EV types having a worldwide distribution in humans, confirming that close contacts can promote cross-species transmission of EVs between humans and NHP

Summary

Introduction

Enteroviruses (EVs), in the Picornaviridae family, form a diversified genus infecting numerous mammalian species including humans, Non-Human Primates (NHP), sheeps, cows and pigs [1,2]. Most EV infections are asymptomatic, but they can cause a wide range of diseases that can be severe and occasionally fatal in humans and animals [1,3,4]. Human EVs can cause symptoms ranging from mild febrile illness to severe forms, such as common cold, gastroenteritis, upper and lower respiratory diseases, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, aseptic meningitis, myocarditis, encephalitis, myelitis and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) [5]. EVs are small non-enveloped viruses having a capsid with icosahedral symetry. Their genome is made up of a single polyadenylated positive RNA strand of about 7.5 kb, which is covalently linked to a small viral protein VPg at the 59 terminus. The large polyprotein translated from the genomic RNA strand is cleaved into four structural proteins (VP1–VP4) and the non-structural proteins

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion