A first report of non-invasive adenovirus detection in wild Assamese macaques in Thailand

Abstract

Several simian adenoviruses (AdVs) have been detected and isolated in various species of non-human primates with the goals of monitoring the health of wildlife and investigating their potential for zoonotic disease transmission. Here, we provide evidence of AdV infection in wild Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis assamensis) at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, based on polymerase chain reaction of non-invasively collected fecal samples. Eight out of 110 fecal samples (7.3%), or five out of 87 monkeys (5.7%), showed evidence of AdV infection. All infected individuals were infants or juveniles. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of hexon and polymerase genes revealed two different AdV genotypes. One genotype clustered in the human AdV-G group, while another showed 100% identity with previously reported AdVs of captive Chinese rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), which may be tentatively classified as a new species of AdV in non-human primates while awaiting further supporting evidence.

High Diversity and Novel Enteric Viruses in Fecal Viromes of Healthy Wild and Captive Thai Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

“…As previously reported for other non-human primate species [69,70] several adenoviruses were also detected including adenovirus G in one macaque. The species-crossing capacity of adenoviruses has been demonstrated [70,71,72,73,74]. Adenovirus G has also been reported in Macaca assamensis from Thailand [70].…”

“…The species-crossing capacity of adenoviruses has been demonstrated [70,71,72,73,74]. Adenovirus G has also been reported in Macaca assamensis from Thailand [70]. Whether the adenovirus G virus detected here has the potential to infect human remains to be determined but represent the virus closest in sequence to one known to infect humans.…”

Are adenoviruses zoonotic? A systematic review of the evidence

“…[20]USA, 2013Recombination or lateral DNA sequence transfer of ITR, and specifically the NF-1 viral replication protein binding site, from a HAdV-B species virus to HAdV-4, as host adaptation for optimal viral replication in human cells.Phylogenetic evidence of anthropozoonosis: Whole genome sequencing; Sequence alignment and phylogenetics for the ITR and viral replication protein binding sequence.13.Hoppe et al [36]DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, 2015Detected HAdV-B in seven wild gorilla samples; Sample from Eastern lowland gorilla in DRC found near complete genome sequence of HAdV-B. Evidence of intra-species recombination between HAdV-B obtained from wild gorillas and chimpanzees.Phylogenetic evidence of zooanthroponosis: nearly full genome sequences, amplified widely overlapping PCR fragments with 19 sets of degenerate nested primers and long-distance PCR.14.Hoppe et al [37]Cameroon, CAR, Côte D`Ivoire, DRC, Gabon, Rwanda, Uganda 2015HAdV-B -C -E and -F were detected by PCR in fecal samples from wild great apes (gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees).Phylogenetic evidence of zooanthroponosis: amplified block with V, pX, pVI and hexon genes, polymerase sequences, V gene using BLAST.15.Pauly et al [38]Côte D`Ivoire, 2015A study of humans and domestic animals found no animal AdV in human feces but several HAdV types were detected in animal fecal samples and rectum swabs from pigs, dogs, goats and sheep.Phylogenetic evidence of zooanthroponosis: PCR targeting hexon gene and phylogenetic analysis using BLAST.16.Sukmak et al [39]Thailand, 2017Fecal samples of macaques found evidence of three AdVs, with two clustering in HAdV-G cluster, demonstrating close relationship to HAdV-52, supporting hypothesis HAdV-52 was originally a SAdV.Phylogenetic evidence of zooanthroponosis: hexon and polymerase genes.17.*Dehghan et al [40]USA, 2019From a comparative genomic analysis, HAdV-76 is nearly identical to SAdV type 35.1 and 35.2 (isolated by Roy et al 2009), with whole genome sequence noted as 99.5% and 99.6% identical to genomes from SAdV-B35.1 and SAdV-B35.2, respectively. A sequence recombination analysis also demonstrated an example of recombination between HAdVs and SAdVs.Phylogenetic evidence of zoonosis: whole genome sequencing; sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Lack of Evidence of Zoonoses Publication …”

Non-Human Primate-Derived Adenoviruses for Future Use as Oncolytic Agents?

“…Most individuals encounter adenoviruses during childhood, as illustrated by a higher detection of adenoviral infections in young children [ 74 ]. In NHPs, adenoviruses also primarily infect infants and are not associated with severe disease [ 75 , 76 ]. Persistent adenoviral infection in a NHP species was shown to associate with an altered microbiome [ 77 ].…”