1. Simian T-Lymphotropic Virus Diversity among Nonhuman Primates, Cameroon.
- Author
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Sintasath, David M., Wolfe, Nathan D., LeBreton, Matthew, Hongwei Jia, Garcia, Albert D., Diffo, Joseph Le Doux, Tamoufe, Ubald, Carr, Jean K., Folks, Thomas M., Mpoudi-Ngole, Eitel, Burke, Donald S., Heneine, Walid, and Switzer, William M.
- Subjects
RETROVIRUSES ,T cells ,PHYLOGENY ,MONKEYS ,CERCOPITHECUS ,DNA - Abstract
Cross-species transmission of retroviruses is common in Cameroon. To determine risk for simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV) transmission from nonhuman primates to hunters, we examined 170 hunter-collected dried blood spots (DBS) from 12 species for STLV. PCR with generic tax and group-specific long terminal repeat primers showed that 12 (7%) specimens from 4 nonhuman primate species were infected with STLV. Phylogenetic analyses showed broad diversity of STLV, including novel STLV-1 and STLV-3 sequences and a highly divergent STLV-3 subtype found in Cercopithecus mona and C. nictitans monkeys. Screening of peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA from 63 HTLV-seroreactive, PCR-negative hunters did not identify human infections with this divergent STLV-3. Therefore, hunter-collected DBS can effectively capture STLV diversity at the point where pathogen spillover occurs. Broad screening using this relatively easy collection strategy has potential for large-scale monitoring of retrovirus cross-species transmission among highly exposed human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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