BackgroundAlthough simian foamy viruses (SFV) are the only exogenous retroviruses to infect New World monkeys (NWMs), little is known about their evolutionary history and epidemiology. Previous reports show distinct SFVs among NWMs but were limited to small numbers of captive or wild monkeys from five (Cebus, Saimiri, Ateles, Alouatta, and Callithrix) of the 15 NWM genera. Other studies also used only PCR testing or serological assays with limited validation and may have missed infection in some species. We developed and validated new serological and PCR assays to determine the prevalence of SFV in blood specimens from a large number of captive NWMs in the US (n = 274) and in captive and wild-caught NWMs (n = 236) in Peruvian zoos, rescue centers, and illegal trade markets. Phylogenetic and co-speciation reconciliation analyses of new SFV polymerase (pol) and host mitochondrial cytochrome B sequences, were performed to infer SFV and host co-evolutionary histories.Results124/274 (45.2 %) of NWMs captive in the US and 59/157 (37.5 %) of captive and wild-caught NWMs in Peru were SFV WB-positive representing 11 different genera (Alouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Cacajao, Callithrix, Cebus, Lagothrix, Leontopithecus, Pithecia, Saguinus and Saimiri). Seroprevalences were lower at rescue centers (10/53, 18.9 %) compared to zoos (46/97, 47.4 %) and illegal trade markets (3/7, 8/19, 42.9 %) in Peru. Analyses showed that the trees of NWM hosts and SFVs have remarkably similar topologies at the level of species and sub-populations suggestive of co-speciation. Phylogenetic reconciliation confirmed 12 co-speciation events (p < 0.002) which was further supported by obtaining highly similar divergence dates for SFV and host genera and correlated SFV-host branch times. However, four ancient cross-genus transmission events were also inferred for Pitheciinae to Atelidae, Cacajao to ancestral Callithrix or Cebus monkeys, between Callithrix and Cebus monkeys, and Lagothrix to Alouatta.ConclusionsWe demonstrate a broad distribution and stable co-speciation history of SFV in NWMs at the species level. Additional studies are necessary to further explore the epidemiology and natural history of SFV infection of NWMs and to determine the zoonotic potential for persons exposed to infected monkeys in captivity and in the wild.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0214-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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En el Perú información sobre el potencial biotecnológico de los hongos nativos para la degradación de la celulosa presenta escasos registros. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la actividad celulolítica de hongos aislados en los departamentos de Cajamarca, Lima, Junín y Huánuco. 289 especies de hongos fueron sometidos a reactivación después de un periodo de conservación de 7 años empleando papel filtro y caldo Czapeck, evaluados de manera semicuantitativa empleando la técnica de difusión radial en agar Czapeck Na-CMC para luego seleccionar cinco cepas que fueron identificadas morfológicamente y también se determinó su capacidad celulolítica por el método de Somogyi-Nelson. Se reactivaron 90% (260) de los hongos que pasaron por evaluación semicuantitativa, seleccionando cinco cepas por su mayor área de aclaramiento: 14.9, 12.5, 12.0, 14.4 y 12.7 x 102 mm2; SA 726 (Paecilomyces sp), SA 668 (Paecilomyces sp), SA 651 (Paecilomyces sp), SA 683 (Fusarium sp) y HN 566 (Aspergillus sp) con AE de: 0.048, 0.042, 0.042, 0.080 y 0.048 UI/ml respectivamente. Las cepas nativas evaluadas mantienen una buena viabilidad en el tiempo y conservan la capacidad para degradar celulosa. Estas cepas pueden ser empleadas en procesos biotecnológicos para el tratamiento de efluentes agroindustriales.