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Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses News

Simian Foamy Virus Found To Be Widespread Among Chimpanzees

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Researchers in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Gabon, Germany, Japan, Rwanda, the United Kingdom, and the United States have found that simian foamy virus (SFV) is widespread among wild chimpanzees throughout equatorial Africa. Details are published July 4th in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens.

Recent studies have shown that humans who hunt wild primates, including chimpanzees, can acquire SFV infections. Since the long-term consequences of these cross-species infections are not known, it is important to determine to what extent wild primates are infected with simian foamy viruses. In this study, researchers tested this question for wild chimpanzees by using novel non-invasive methods. Analyzing over 700 fecal samples from 25 chimpanzee communities across sub-Saharan Africa, the researchers obtained viral sequences from a large proportion of these communities, showing a range of infection rates from 44% to 100%.

Major disease outbreaks have originated from cross-species transmission of infectious agents between primates and humans, making it important to learn more about how these cross-species transfers occur. The high SFV infection rates of chimpanzees provide an opportunity to monitor where humans are exposed to these viruses. Identifying the locations may help determine where the highest rates of human - chimpanzee interactions occur. This may predict what other pathogens may jump the species barrier next.

Molecular Ecology and Natural History of Simian Foamy Virus Infection in Wild-Living Chimpanzees.
Liu W, Worobey M, Li Y, Keele BF, Bibollet-Ruche F, et al. (2008)
PLoS Pathog 4(7): e1000097. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000097

About PLoS Pathogens

PLoS Pathogens publishes outstanding original articles that significantly advance the understanding of pathogens and how they interact with their host organisms. All works published in PLoS Pathogens are open access. Everything is immediately available subject only to the condition that the original authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.

PLoS Pathogens

About the Public Library of Science

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource.

Public Library of Science




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