Molecular Epidemiology of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Wild-Living Gorillas

Neel Cecile (1) , Etienne Lucie (1) , Li Yingying (2) , Takehisa Jun (2) , Rudicell Rebecca S. (2) , Bass Innocent Ndong , Moudindo Joseph , Mebenga Aime , Esteban Amandine (1) , Heuverswyn Fran Van (1) , Liegeois Florian (1) , Kranzusch Philip J. , Walsh Peter D. (1) , Sanz Crickette M. (3) , Morgan David B. , Ndjango Jean-Bosco N. , Plantier Jean-Christophe (4) , Locatelli Sabrina (5) , Gonder Mary K. (5) , Leendertz Fabian H. (6) , Boesch Christophe (7) , Todd Angelique , Delaporte Eric (1) , Mpoudi-Ngole Eitel , Hahn Beatrice H. (2) , Peeters Martine (1)

1 TransVIHMI - Recherches Translationnelles sur le VIH et les maladies infectieuses endémiques et émergentes
2 UAB - University of Alabama at Birmingham [ Birmingham]
3 WUSTL - Washington University in Saint Louis
4 UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie
5 University at Albany [SUNY]
6 RKI - Robert Koch Institute [Berlin]
7 MPI-EVA - Max-Planck-Institut für evolutionäre Anthropologie

Chimpanzees and gorillas are the only nonhuman primates known to harbor viruses closely related to HIV-1. Phylogenetic analyses showed that gorillas acquired the simian immunodeficiency virus SIVgor from chim- panzees, and viruses from the SIVcpz/SIVgor lineage have been transmitted to humans on at least four occasions, leading to HIV-1 groups M, N, O, and P. To determine the geographic distribution, prevalence, and species association of SIVgor, we conducted a comprehensive molecular epidemiological survey of wild gorillas in Central Africa. Gorilla fecal samples were collected in the range of western lowland gorillas (n 2,367) and eastern Grauer gorillas (n 183) and tested for SIVgor antibodies and nucleic acids. SIVgor antibody-positive samples were identified at 2 sites in Cameroon, with no evidence of infection at 19 other sites, including 3 in the range of the Eastern gorillas. In Cameroon, based on DNA and microsatellite analyses of a subset of samples, we estimated the prevalence of SIVgor to be 1.6% (range, 0% to 4.6%), which is significantly lower than the prevalence of SIVcpzPtt in chimpanzees (5.9%; range, 0% to 32%). All newly identified SIVgor strains formed a monophyletic lineage within the SIVcpz radiation, closely related to HIV-1 groups O and P, and clustered according to their field site of origin. At one site, there was evidence for intergroup transmission and a high intragroup prevalence. These isolated hot spots of SIVgor-infected gorilla communities could serve as a source for human infection. The overall low prevalence and sporadic distribution of SIVgor could suggest a decline of SIVgor in wild populations, but it cannot be excluded that SIVgor is still more prevalent in other parts of the geographical range of gorillas.

Domaines: Médecine vétérinaire et santé animale; Biologie moléculaire; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Neel Cecile, Etienne Lucie, Li Yingying, Takehisa Jun, Rudicell Rebecca S., et al.. Molecular Epidemiology of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Wild-Living Gorillas. Journal of Virology, 2009, 84, pp.1464 - 1476. ⟨10.1128/jvi.02129-09⟩. ⟨hal-03058000⟩