Characterization of Enteroviruses from Non-Human Primates in Cameroon Revealed Virus Types Widespread in Humans along with Candidate New Types and Species

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.

African Non-Human Primates Host Diverse Enteroviruses

“…Detection of species EV-A and EV-B in chimpanzees implies that they may be infected with these viruses, consistent with previously published observations [67]. Circulation of the same virus (EV107) in human populations in Asia and the detection of this virus in African wild primate living in a forest with minimal human contacts implies relatively easy long distance transmission of the virus, probably via humans.…”

“…Enterovirus B types that are commonly found in humans have been detected in NHPs in our study (e.g. Cpz-GAB130 and Cpz-GAB98) and in previous reports [67]. However, there have been no data on detection of the EV-B/EV-J recombinant viruses in humans.…”

Genetic Characterization of Enterovirus A71 Circulating in Africa

“…We isolated and typed these isolates as previously described ( 7 – 10 ) and obtained nearly complete genomic sequences using degenerated primers ( 13 ) and additional primers designed for gene-walking (available on request) or unbiased sequencing methods ( 14 ). We determined the 5′-terminal sequences by means of a RACE kit (Roche, Munich, Germany).…”

“…Several AFP cases have been associated with EV-A71 infection during 2000–2013 throughout Africa: in Democratic Republic of the Congo ( 5 ) (2000, n = 1); Nigeria ( 6 ) (2004, n = 1, genogroup E); Central African Republic ( 7 ) (2003, n = 1, genogroup E); Cameroon ( 8 ) (2008, n = 2, genogroup E); Niger ( 9 ) (2013, n = 1, genogroup E); and Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea ( 9 ) (2013–2014, n = 3, subgenogroup C2). Four additional EV-A71 strains were obtained from captive gorillas in Cameroon during 2006–2008 (n = 2, genogroup E) ( 10 ) and from healthy children in Nigeria in 2014 (n = 2, genogroup E) ( 11 ). Molecular identification of all these isolates was based only on the analysis of sequences of the viral protein (VP) 1 capsid protein region.…”

The Impact of a Panenterovirus Vp1 Assay on Our Perception of the Enterovirus Diversity Landscape of a Sample

“…To accomplish this, the Nix et al [12] RT-snPCR protocol (subsequently referred to in this manuscript as the Nix protocol) was adopted. Since its first description in 2006 [12], several independent groups [13][14][15] have used the Nix protocol and confirmed its sensitivity.…”