Two Novel Simian Arteriviruses in Captive and Wild Baboons (Papio spp.)

Abstract

Since the 1960s, simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV; Nidovirales, Arteriviridae) has caused highly fatal outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever in captive Asian macaque colonies. However, the source(s) of these outbreaks and the natural reservoir(s) of this virus remain obscure. Here we report the identification of two novel, highly divergent simian arteriviruses related to SHFV, Mikumi yellow baboon virus 1 (MYBV-1) and Southwest baboon virus 1 (SWBV-1), in wild and captive baboons, respectively, and demonstrate the recent transmission of SWBV-1 among captive baboons. These findings extend our knowledge of the genetic and geographic diversity of the simian arteriviruses, identify baboons as a natural host of these viruses, and provide further evidence that baboons may have played a role in previous outbreaks of simian hemorrhagic fever in macaques, as has long been suspected. This knowledge should aid in the prevention of disease outbreaks in captive macaques and supports the growing body of evidence that suggests that simian arterivirus infections are common in Old World monkeys of many different species throughout Africa. IMPORTANCEHistorically, the emergence of primate viruses both in humans and in other primate species has caused devastating outbreaks of disease. One strategy for preventing the emergence of novel primate pathogens is to identify microbes with the potential for cross-species transmission in their natural state within reservoir species from which they might emerge. Here, we detail the discovery and characterization of two related simian members of the Arteriviridae family that have a history of disease emergence and host switching. Our results expand the phylogenetic and geographic range of the simian arteriviruses and define baboons as a natural host for these viruses. Our findings also identify a potential threat to captive macaque colonies by showing that simian arteriviruses are actively circulating in captive baboons.

Within-Host Evolution of Simian Arteriviruses in Crab-Eating Macaques

“…Every simian arterivirus isolated from wild nonhuman primates thus far has been found only in primates of a single species (9,(11)(12)(13), despite the fact that host species occupy overlapping habitats and frequently interact (39). Although KRCV-1 may naturally infect crab-eating macaques, we suspect that natural KRCV-1 infection in these primates is unlikely.…”

“…KRCV-1 has not been detected in any other primate species of African or Asian origin besides red colobus monkeys, either in captivity or in the wild, despite screens of captive macaques and wild nonhuman primates from Kibale National Park. However, additional highly divergent simian arteriviruses have recently been discovered in apparently healthy wild red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) (12), yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) (13), hybrid kinda ϫ grayfooted-chacma baboons (Papio kindae ϫ Papio ursinus griseipes) (14), malbroucks (Chlorocebus cynosuros), African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) (15), vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) (15), and De Brazza's monkeys (Cercopithecus neglectus) (10), indicating that these viruses are widespread among African monkeys. We recently analyzed samples collected during three separate SHF outbreaks that occurred in captive macaque colonies in the 1960s and late 1980s.…”

“…An analysis of KRCV-1 isolates from 60 wild red colobus monkeys from Kibale National Park, Uganda, uncovered signatures of diversifying selection in two regions of the open reading frame (ORF) 5-encoded major arterivirus surface glycoprotein GP5, possibly due to immune pressure or "mutational hot spots" (11,13). A recent comparative analysis of those same KRCV-1 isolates suggested that regions under diversifying selection are present in ORFs TF, 3=, 4=, 3, 4, and 5 (unpublished data).…”

GB Virus C Coinfections in West African Ebola Patients

“…We believe that this is unlikely because (i) we detected GBV-C in patients with EBOV plasma loads of Ͼ10 8 (see supplemental Fig. S2 in reference 2) and (ii) in previous studies, we have detected multiple viruses from a single sample using a similar methodology, even in samples where at least one virus was highly concentrated (17)(18)(19)(20). Recovery of unique reads targeting the majority of the viral genome provide unequivocal evidence for GBV-C infection in all but one of the samples; however, in the one sample where less than half of the genome is covered, verification of GBV-C status using an independent assay (e.g., reverse transcription-quantitative PCR [RT-qPCR]) would be ideal but is not currently possible.…”

Arteriviruses, Pegiviruses, and Lentiviruses Are Common among Wild African Monkeys

“…Previously, we used unbiased deep sequencing, a technique that utilizes random hexamers to prime cDNA synthesis from RNA in combination with next-generation sequencing, to discover and characterize blood-borne RNA viruses in wild monkeys from several cercopithecoid (i.e., Old World monkey [OWM]) species in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). We consistently detected viruses from three genera: lentiviruses (i.e., SIV, Retroviridae family), pegiviruses (i.e., simian pegivirus [SPgV], Flaviviridae family), and simian arteriviruses (i.e., viruses distantly related to simian hemorrhagic fever virus [SHFV], Arteriviridae family).…”