Exposure to SIVmnd-2 in Southern Cameroon: Public Health Implications

In 2002, compelling evidence highlighted human exposure to a plethora of primate lenti-viruses through hunting, handling of bushmeat and/or animals kept as pets in Cameroon. To determine SIV prevalence in pet animals, sera from 28 non-human primates (3 species), kept as household pets in southern Cameroon, was analyzed. Results showed there was no SIV infection among greater spot nosed monkeys (0/5) or chimpanzees (0/10). However, there was a prevalence rate of 23.1% (3/13) in mandrills. Phylogenetical analysis based on pol-integrase (IN) region and mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b gene showed that the newly found SIVs from Mandrillus sphinx (SIVmndCM-202, SIVmndCM-211 and SIVmndCM-218) clustered significantly with SIVmnd-2. Questionnaire data were also collected to assess whether owners had experienced bites, scratches or exposure to blood and/or body fluid. Risk to human health from cross-species transmission of the newly identified SIVmnd-2 to infect humans remains unknown.