ABSTRACT
Simian betaretroviruses include the well-known exogenous simian retroviruses (SRV-1 through SRV-8), and some closely related simian endogenous retroviruses (SERV). Here, we characterized two new viral genomes, which appear to represent novel SERVs but have characteristics of both SRV and SERV highlighting the need to develop new assays providing molecular and serologic differentiation of SERV and SRV to avoid false positives.
Subject(s)
Endogenous Retroviruses/isolation & purification , Genome, Viral , Macaca nemestrina/virology , Retroviridae Infections/diagnosis , Retroviruses, Simian/isolation & purification , Tumor Virus Infections/diagnosis , Animals , Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics , Indonesia , Retroviruses, Simian/geneticsABSTRACT
To better understand Simian betaretrovirus (SRV) seropositivity in virus-negative macaques, we transfused blood from SRV-infected or suspect donors into immunosuppressed naive recipients. Our results do not support typical SRV1-5 infection as the cause, but provide evidence for several possibilities including serological artifact, new/different SRV, or an endogenous virus.
Subject(s)
Betaretrovirus/physiology , Macaca , Monkey Diseases/diagnosis , Retroviridae Infections/diagnosis , Animals , Monkey Diseases/virology , Retroviridae Infections/virologyABSTRACT
In Asia, contact between persons and nonhuman primates is widespread in multiple occupational and nonoccupational contexts. Simian foamy viruses (SFVs) are retroviruses that are prevalent in all species of nonhuman primates. To determine SFV prevalence in humans, we tested 305 persons who lived or worked around nonhuman primates in several South and Southeast Asian countries; 8 (2.6%) were confirmed SFV positive by Western blot and, for some, by PCR. The interspecies interactions that likely resulted in virus transmission were diverse; 5 macaque taxa were implicated as a potential source of infection. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SFV from 3 infected persons was similar to that from the nonhuman primate populations with which the infected persons reported contact. Thus, SFV infections are likely to be prevalent among persons who live or work near nonhuman primates in Asia.
Subject(s)
Retroviridae Infections/transmission , Simian foamy virus , Zoonoses/transmission , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Ape Diseases/transmission , Ape Diseases/virology , Asia/epidemiology , DNA, Viral/genetics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Exposure , Phylogeny , Retroviridae Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Our goal was to determine if a multiplex technique using a fluorescent bead-based flow cytometric assay could yield results comparable to traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in terms of sensitivity, specificity, cross-reactivity, and throughput. We applied both techniques to serologic screening of specific pathogen-free macaques, for type D simian retrovirus, simian T-lymphotropic virus, Cercopithicine herpesvirus 1, and simian immunodeficiency virus, and found a high correlation between the bead-based multiplex assay and ELISA. The multiplex assay demonstrated greater sensitivity with no loss in specificity when compared to the ELISA. A lower false-positive rate with the multiplex assay decreased the number of confirmatory Western blots required. Using the multiplex assay, we were able to screen samples for 4 viruses simultaneously in the time it took to perform a single-virus ELISA, resulting in a faster turnaround time and higher throughput. The multiplexed assay provided greater sensitivity, increased stability, and better performance than ELISA.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Flow Cytometry/methods , Virus Diseases/diagnosis , Virus Diseases/immunology , Viruses/immunology , Animals , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Flow Cytometry/instrumentation , Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Microspheres , Retroviruses, Simian/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/immunology , Simian T-lymphotropic virus 1/immunology , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , Virus Diseases/virologyABSTRACT
Animal reservoirs are the most important sources of emerging infectious diseases that threaten human populations. Global travel and tourism bring ever-increasing numbers of humans into contact with animals, increasing the likelihood of cross species transmission of infectious agents. Non-human primates come into contact with humans in a variety of contexts and may harbor infectious agents with zoonotic potential. We investigated the prevalence of infection with enzootic simian viruses among 20 urban performance monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in Jakarta, Indonesia. This report documents for the first time evidence of infection with four simian viruses in urban performance monkeys. Simian foamy virus was detected by PCR in 52.9% of the macaques. Antibodies to simian retrovirus were detected in 10.5% of the macaques. Antibodies to Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1, were detected in 5.3% of the macaques. Similarly, antibodies to simian T-cell lymphotropic virus were detected in 5.3% of the macaques. No evidence of infection with simian immunodeficiency virus was detected in these macaques. These results suggest that urban performance monkeys are a reservoir for enzootic simian viruses known to be capable of infecting humans.