Simian Immunodeficiency Virus seroreactivity in inhabitants from rural Cameroon frequently in contact with non-human primates

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 503; pp. 76 - 82
• Main Authors: Filippone, Claudia, de Oliveira, Fabienne, Betsem, Edouard, Schaeffer, Laura, Fontanet, Arnaud, Lemée, Veronique, Gessain, Antoine, Plantier, Jean-Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Bite; Bites and Stings; Bites and Stings - epidemiology; Cameroon; Cameroon - epidemiology; Central Africa; Cercopithecus; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-species transmission; Female; Gorilla gorilla; HIV; Human health and pathology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; immunologic techniques; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Male; Microbiology and Parasitology; Middle Aged; nationalities and ethnic groups; Non-human primate; Pan troglodytes; Primates; Pygmies; Retroviridae Infections; Retroviridae Infections - epidemiology; Retroviridae Infections - transmission; Retroviridae Infections - virology; Risk Factors; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Seroreactivity; Simian foamy virus; Simian foamy virus - immunology; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - immunology; Simian T-lymphotropic virus 1; Simian T-lymphotropic virus 1 - immunology; SIV; Surveys and Questionnaires; tropical forests; Virology; viruses; Young Adult; Zoonoses; Zoonoses - epidemiology; Zoonoses - transmission; Zoonoses - virology; Cameroon; SIV; PLIA; Cameroon; Pygmies; HIV; NHP; Non-human primate; Bite; Central Africa; Seroreactivity; Cross-species transmission; Primate Lentivirus Immuno Assay; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; non-human primate; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.12.026

Central African tropical forests are home to several species of non-human primates (NHPs), infected by Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). It is well-known that HIV-1 epidemic is due to cross-transmission and adaptation of SIV to humans. The main goal of this work was to investigate if a NHP bite is a risk factor for SIV acquisition. A cross-sectional study was performed in rural Cameroon on 246 bitten individuals (mostly by adult NHPs), matched, according to sex, age, and ethnicity (Bantus and Pygmies), with an equal number of not-bitten subjects. Following a serological assay for a wide range of SIVs, we observed a high level of indeterminate seroreactivity (25.8%) in the total population, whereas 68.9% were sero-negative and 5.3% HIV-1 positive. Bites do not appear to be a risk factor for SIV seroreactivity, in contrast to Simian Foamy Virus and Simian T-Lymphotropic Virus type 1 in the same studied population. •A pair-based study was performed on 492 individuals from rural Cameroon.•Bite by non-human primates was investigated as potential risk factor for SIV acquisition.•A high level of indeterminate sero-reactivity (25.8%) was observed in the total population.•No evidence of SIV infection was observed among individuals bitten by non-human•primates.