Frequent Simian Foamy Virus Infection in Persons Occupationally Exposed to Nonhuman Primates

作者：William M. Switzer, Vinod B. Bhullar, Vedapuri Shanmugam, Mian-er Cong, Bharat Parekh, Nicholas W. Lerche, JoAnn L. Yee, John J. Ely, Roumiana S. Boneva, Louisa E. Chapman, Thomas M. Folks, Walid Heneine · 发表于：Journal of Virology · 年份：2004 · DOI：10.1128/jvi.78.6.2780-2789.2004 · 被引用次数：221 · 研究领域：HIV Research and Treatment、Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments、Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research

The recognition that AIDS originated as a zoonosis heightens public health concerns associated with human infection by simian retroviruses endemic in nonhuman primates (NHPs). These retroviruses include simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV), simian type D retrovirus (SRV), and simian foamy virus (SFV). Although occasional infection with SIV, SRV, or SFV in persons occupationally exposed to NHPs has been reported, the characteristics and significance of these zoonotic infections are not fully defined. Surveillance for simian retroviruses at three research centers and two zoos identified no SIV, SRV, or STLV infection in 187 participants. However, 10 of 187 persons (5.3%) tested positive for SFV antibodies by Western blot (WB) analysis. Eight of the 10 were males, and 3 of the 10 worked at zoos. SFV integrase gene (int) and gag sequences were PCR amplified from the peripheral blood lymphocytes available from 9 of the 10 persons. Phylogenetic analysis showed SFV infection originating from chimpanzees (n = 8) and baboons (n = 1). SFV seropositivity for periods of 8 to 26 years (median, 22 years) was documented for six workers for whom archived serum samples were available, demonstrating long-standing SFV infection. All 10 persons reported general good health, and secondary transmission of SFV was not observed in three wives available for WB and PCR testing. Additional phylogenetic analysis of int and gag sequences provided the first direct e...