Primate bushmeat : Populations exposed to simian immunodeficien...( Serological analyses on nearly 800 monk...),Health

Serological analyses on nearly 800 monkeys hunted in rainforests of Cameroon, sold on the markets as bushmeat or kept as pets showed a high rate of cross-reactivity with HIV antigens, more than 16%. SIV infection was identified in 13 of the 16 primate species examined, four of them previously not known to harbor SIV. Furthermore, five new SIV lineages have been isolated. These data document for the first time that humans are exposed to a plethora of genetically highly divergent viruses through hunting and handling bushmeat.

Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 are of zoonotic origin , and the closest simian relatives of HIV-1 and HIV-2 have been found in the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) respectively. Given that humans come in frequent contact with primates in many parts of subsaharan Africa, particularly through hunting and handling primate bushmeat the possibility of additional zoonotic transfers of primate lentiviruses from species other than chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys has to be considered. This risk can only be assessed by studying the prevalence, diversity and geographic distribution of SIVinfections in wild primate populations in this part of the world.

A team of researchers from IRD and projet PRESICA working with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry from Cameroon, realized the first comprehensive survey on siv prevalences in wild caught primates from cameroon, and provide a first approximation of the magnitude and variety of sivs to which humans are exposed to through contact with non-human primates.

Nearly 800 monkeys , hunted in the rainforests, and subsequently sold for their meat on markets in Yaound, surrounding villages and logging concessions, or kept as pets were tested for hiv cross-reactive antibodies. Strong serological reaction, indicating infection by an SIV, was found in 16.6% of the monkeys sampled. Out of 16 species, 13 were infected. Four of these had previously not been identified a
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Contact: Hlne Deval
deval@paris.ird.fr
33-01-48-03-75-19
Institut de Recherche Pour le Dveloppement
2-Apr-2002

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