Abstract
Enteroviruses (EVs) are viruses of the family Picornaviridae that cause mild to severe infections in humans and in several animal species, including non-human primates (NHPs). We conducted a survey and characterization of enteroviruses circulating between humans and great apes in the Congo. Fecal samples (N = 24) of gorillas and chimpanzees living close to or distant from humans in three Congolese parks were collected, as well as from healthy humans (N = 38) living around and within these parks. Enteroviruses were detected in 29.4% of gorilla and 13.15% of human feces, including wild and human-habituated gorillas, local humans and eco-guards. Two identical strains were isolated from two humans coming from two remote regions. Their genomes were similar and all genes showed their close similarity to coxsackieviruses, except for the 3C, 3D and 5′-UTR regions, where they were most similar to poliovirus 1 and 2, suggesting recombination. Recombination events were found between these strains, poliovirus 1 and 2 and EV-C99. It is possible that the same EV-C species circulated in both humans and apes in different regions in the Congo, which must be confirmed in other investigations. In addition, other studies are needed to further investigate the circulation and genetic diversity of enteroviruses in the great ape population, to draw a definitive conclusion on the different species and types of enteroviruses circulating in the Republic of Congo.
Highlights
Enteroviruses (EVs) are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses and members of the Picornaviridae family
The enterovirus genus comprises more than 300 serotypes, most of which are known to infect humans, and the most important belong to the group of coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, polioviruses and rhinoviruses
Fecal samples were collected from non-human primates (NHPs) in three national parks in the Congo, as well as from local human populations and healthy eco-guards living in proximity with animals
Summary
Enteroviruses (EVs) are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses and members of the Picornaviridae family. These viruses form a genetically diverse genus infecting humans and many animal species, including non-human primates (NHPs), sheep, cattle and pigs [1,2]. Enteroviruses were originally classified according to their antigenic and pathogenic properties in humans and laboratory animals. These viruses were previously divided into polioviruses (PV) with three serotypes, coxsackievirus A (CV-A) with 23 serotypes, coxsackievirus B (CV-B) with six serotypes, echoviruses (E) with 28 serotypes and enteroviruses 68 to 71 [5,6]. EVs are classified into 12 species, including EV-A to L and rhinoviruses A to C (RV-A, B and C) (https://talk.ictvonline.org/taxonomy/)
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