@article{fdi:010054177,
  title = {{F}requent and recent human acquisition of {S}imian {F}oamy {V}iruses through apes' bites in {C}entral {A}frica},
  author = {{B}etsem, {E}. and {R}ua, {R}. and {T}ortevoye, {P}. and {F}roment, {A}lain and {G}essain, {A}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{H}uman infection by simian foamy viruses ({SFV}) can be acquired by persons occupationally exposed to non-human primates ({NHP}) or in natural settings. {T}his study aimed at getting better knowledge on {SFV} transmission dynamics, risk factors for such a zoonotic infection and, searching for intra-familial dissemination and the level of peripheral blood (pro) viral loads in infected individuals. {W}e studied 1,321 people from the general adult population (mean age 49 yrs, 640 women and 681 men) and 198 individuals, mostly men, all of whom had encountered a {NHP} with a resulting bite or scratch. {A}ll of these, either {P}ygmies (436) or {B}antus (1085) live in villages in {S}outh {C}ameroon. {A} specific {SFV} {W}estern blot was used and two nested {PCR}s (polymerase, and {LTR}) were done on all the positive/borderline samples by serology. {I}n the general population, 2/1,321 (0.2%) persons were found to be infected. {I}n the second group, 37/198 (18.6%) persons were {SFV} positive. {T}hey were mostly infected by apes (37/39) {FV} (mainly gorilla). {I}nfection by monkey {FV} was less frequent (2/39). {T}he viral origin of the amplified sequences matched with the history reported by the hunters, most of which (83%) are aged 20 to 40 years and acquired the infection during the last twenty years. {T}he (pro) viral load in 33 individuals infected by a gorilla {FV} was quite low (, 1 to 145 copies per 10 5 cells) in the peripheral blood leucocytes. {O}f the 30 wives and 12 children from families of {FV} infected persons, only one woman was seropositive in {WB} without subsequent viral {DNA} amplification. {W}e demonstrate a high level of recent transmission of {SFV}s to humans in natural settings specifically following severe gorilla bites during hunting activities. {T}he virus was found to persist over several years, with low {SFV} loads in infected persons. {S}econdary transmission remains an open question.},
  keywords = {{CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}los {P}athogens},
  volume = {7},
  numero = {10},
  pages = {e1002306},
  ISSN = {1553-7366},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.ppat.1002306},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010054177},
}