Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the cause of human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a zoonotic infection of staggering proportions and social impact. Yet uncertainty persists regarding its natural reservoir. The virus most closely related to HIV-1 is a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) thus far identified only in captive members of the chimpanzee subspecies Pan troglodytes troglodytes. Here we report the detection of SIVcpz antibodies and nucleic acids in fecal samples from wild-living P. t. troglodytes apes in southern Cameroon, where prevalence rates in some communities reached 29 to 35%. By sequence analysis of endemic SIVcpz strains, we could trace the origins of pandemic (group M) and nonpandemic (group N) HIV-1 to distinct, geographically isolated chimpanzee communities. These findings establish P. t. troglodytes as a natural reservoir of HIV-1.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Viral / analysis
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Ape Diseases / epidemiology
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Ape Diseases / virology
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Cameroon / epidemiology
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DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
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Disease Outbreaks*
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Disease Reservoirs*
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Feces / virology
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HIV Antibodies / analysis
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HIV Infections / epidemiology
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HIV Infections / virology*
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HIV-1 / classification
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HIV-1 / genetics*
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Haplotypes
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Humans
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Molecular Epidemiology
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Pan troglodytes / classification
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Pan troglodytes / virology*
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Phylogeny
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Prevalence
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Recombination, Genetic
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Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
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Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / virology*
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Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / classification
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Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics*
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Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology
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Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / isolation & purification
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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DNA, Mitochondrial
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HIV Antibodies