Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
but potentially grave results for the animals. Because these contexts of inter-
species transmission of SIV exist, we advocate monitoring populations of
long-tailed macaques that have potential contact with African primates for
SIV. It should be noted that there is no reason to believe that long-tailed
macaques pose any risk for the transmission of immunodeficiency viruses
to humans.
Simian foamy virus (SFV)
Simian foamy viruses (SFV) are members of the taxonomic subfamily of
retroviruses known as
Spumavirinae
. Foamy viruses are found in many
mammals including cats, cows, rodents and sea lions as well as several spe-
cies of non-human primates (Meiering and Linial,
2001
). Molecular studies
suggest that foamy viruses are ancient, having coevolved with their host
species over tens of millions of years (Switzer
et al
.,
2005
). Foamy viruses
are unique among retroviruses in that, in spite of the virus's persistence in
a variety of tissues, no pathogenic state has been associated with infection
(Meiering and Linial,
2001
). Research in non-human primates suggests that
although host animals mount an antibody response to SFV, the virus con-
tinues to be detected in the host throughout its life (Falcone
et al
.,
2003
).
Seroprevalence of SFV reaches 100 percen in adult macaques in the labora-
tory and in free-ranging populations of long-tailed macaques (Jones-Engel
et al
.,
2007
).
Although to date no endemic human foamy virus has been discovered,
human infection with SFV has been detected. The first research document-
ing human infection with SFV described infection in individuals who had
contact with non-human primates at zoos and primate laboratories (Brooks
et al
.,
2002
; Heneine
et al
.,
1998
). Since then, SFV infection has been shown
in bushmeat hunters in Central Africa and in people who came into contact
with a variety of Asian primates in multiple contexts in south and south-
east Asia (Calattini
et al
.,
2007
; Falcone
et al
.,
2003
; Jones-Engel
et al
.,
2008
; Wolfe
et al
.,
2004
). SFV infection in humans is not well studied.
Follow-up of a very small number (i.e., fewer than ten) infected individuals,
infected in the context of a primate laboratory suggests that infection is per-
sistent but there is no evidence that infected individuals developed disease
or transmitted the virus to close contacts, including sexual partners (Boneva
et al
.,
2007
). Data thus far indicates humans may be dead end hosts for SFV
(Callahan
et al
.,
1999
; Meiering and Linial,
2001
). However, more data is
certainly needed to assess whether this is actually the case. In particular,
