Open AccessGlobal view on virus infection in non-human primates and implications for public health and wildlife conservation
Author(s) -
Zhijin Liu,
Xue-Kun Qian,
Min-Heng Hong,
Jiali Zhang,
Dayong Li,
Tian-Han Wang,
Yang Zuomin,
Liye Zhang,
Ziming Wang,
Hua-Jian Nie,
Ke-Yue Fan,
Xiongfei Zhang,
Mengmeng Chen,
Weilai Sha,
Christian Roos,
Ming Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
zoological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 19
ISSN - 2095-8137
DOI - 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.080
Subject(s) - biology , virus , zoology , wildlife , transmission (telecommunications) , virology , natural reservoir , primate , captivity , ecology , electrical engineering , engineering
Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans (and vice versa) and across animal species. As such, host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention. Non-human primates (NHPs), our closest evolutionary relatives, are susceptible to human viruses and certain pathogens are known to circulate between humans and NHPs. Here, we generated global statistics on VI-NHPs based on a literature search and public data mining. In total, 140 NHP species from 12 families are reported to be infected by 186 DNA and RNA virus species, 68.8% of which are also found in humans, indicating high potential for crossing species boundaries. The top 10 NHP species with high centrality in the NHP-virus network include two great apes ( Pan troglodytes , Pongo pygmaeus ) and eight Old World monkeys ( Macaca mulatta , M. fascicularis , M. leonina , Papio cynocephalus , Cercopithecus ascanius , C. erythrotis , Chlorocebus aethiops , and Allochrocebus lhoesti ). Given the wide distribution of Old World monkeys and their frequent contact with humans, there is a high risk of virus circulation between humans and such species. Thus, we suggest recurring epidemiological surveillance of NHPs, specifically Old World monkeys that are in frequent contact with humans, and other effective measures to prevent potential circulation and transmission of viruses. Avoidance of false positives and sampling bias should also be a focus in future work.