“Enteric viruses are ubiquitous viruses infecting a wide range of vertebrates including humans and non-human primates (NHPs). They are mainly transmitted by direct or indirect faecal-oral route, after which they reach the enterocytes and multiply there. Although sometimes asymptomatic, infections caused by enteric viruses can manifest as gastroenteritis, which is very common in children under 5 years of age. These same viruses can be responsible for severe pathologies such as respiratory, encephalitis, cardiac and neurological diseases. Numerous studies have been conducted on the characterization of enteric viruses, mainly in captive HNPs or in contact with humans. In the natural environment, apart from enteroviruses and adenoviruses, little is known about their circulation, epidemiology and diversity. The objective of this project was therefore to research and characterise enteric viruses in Central African wild animals.”

Funding

CIRMF ad Metabiota, Prevent project.

Partners

Main discoveries

New enteroviruses genomes sequences

Unsuspected diversity of entric viruses in Central African wild animals

Gorilla, Gabon. @F. Prugnolle

A total of 2,376 animal samples collected in Gabon and stored at CIRMF were studied (962 bats, 600 chimpanzees or gorillas, 520 rodents, 200 mandrills and 100 bushmeat samples). This molecular screening work has allowed the characterisation of an important diversity of enteric viruses circulating in Gabonese wildlife. As some point we have also been able to obtained the full-genomes of different viruses, such as Enterovirus C99 or Genogroup I sapovirus in chimpanzees. The identification of enteric viruses in wild animals that are similar in nature to those infecting human populations raises the possibility of interspecies transmission between wildlife and humans, the direction of which has yet to be determined for both human health and conservation issues.

Studied sampling distribution

All 2,376 animal samples studied in this project have been collected in Gabon.

Main publications

01. Mombo, I. M. et al. Natural infection of free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) by enteroviruses and astroviruses in southern Gabon

Microbial Pathogenesis. 150, 104659 (2021) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33249166/

02. Mombo, I. M. et al. A Second Genome Sequence of an Enterovirus C99 Detected in a Healthy Chimpanzee

Mic. Res. Ann. 9 (42) (2020) https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00893-20

03. Mombo, I. M. et al. Detection of novel astroviruses among rodents of Gabon, Central Africa

Infect. Genet. Evol. 68, 43–46 (2019). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30529088/

04. Mombo, I. M. et al. African Non-Human Primates Host Diverse Enteroviruses

PLoS ONE 12, e0169067 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169067

05. Rougeron, V. et al. Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of new bat astroviruses detected in Gabon, Central Africa

Acta Virol. 60, 386–392 (2016). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27928918/

06.Mombo, I. M. et al. First Detection of an Enterovirus C99 in a Captive Chimpanzee with Acute Flaccid Paralysis, from the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, Republic of Congo

PLoS ONE 10, e0136700 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136700

07.Mombo, I. M. et al. Characterization of a genogroup I sapovirus isolated from chimpanzees in the republic of congo

Genome Announc 2, (2014). https://doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.00680-14

Portfolio

evolution adaptation monkeys gabon ecology project virginie rougeron

field mission la lekedi park la lope bakoumba gabon ecology project virginie rougeron research

field mission la lope gabon ecology project virginie rougeron research

chimpanzee gabonproject ecology enteric viruse wild animals research virginie rougeron

Picture 1 : Monkeys, Gabon. @V. Rougeron – Picture 2: Field mission in Gabon. @F. Prugnolle

Picture 3 : Field mission, La Lopé, Gabon. @ V. Rougeron – Picture 4 : chimpanzee Gabon. @N. Rahola

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Evolutionary history and genetic adaptation of Plasmodium vivax – ANR T-ERC EVAD 2017

Collaborators involved

Illich
MOMBO

(researcher, CIRMF, Gabon), is a virologist, he did all the molecular bench, genomes sequencing and analysis. He performed this research during his PhD and then continues to collaborate on this topic.

Eric
LEROY

(DR1, MiVEGEC, France), is a virologist, responsible of the virology department, in charged of the whole project (funding, management and direction).

Marie
CHARPENTIER

(DR2, ISEM, Montpellier) is a behavioural ecologist, working on the evolution of sociality in primate societies through individual-centred longitudinal monitoring. She helped in Mandrillus sphinx fecal samples collection and publication analysis and writing.