Simian adenoviruses: Molecular and serological survey in monkeys and humans in Thailand

Nathamon Kosoltanapiwat; Jarinee Tongshoob; Sumate Ampawong; Onrapak Reamtong; Luxsana Prasittichai; Marnoch Yindee; Daraka Tongthainan; Phitsanu Tulayakul; Kobporn Boonnak

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100434

Simian adenoviruses: Molecular and serological survey in monkeys and humans in Thailand

One Health. 2022 Sep 16:15:100434. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100434. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Nathamon Kosoltanapiwat¹, Jarinee Tongshoob¹, Sumate Ampawong², Onrapak Reamtong³, Luxsana Prasittichai⁴, Marnoch Yindee⁵, Daraka Tongthainan⁶, Phitsanu Tulayakul⁷, Kobporn Boonnak⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
² Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
³ Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Wildlife Conservation Division, Protected Areas Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong), Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ratchaburi, Thailand.
⁵ Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhonsithammarat, Thailand.
⁶ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Rajamagala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Chonburi, Thailand.
⁷ Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
⁸ Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Abstract

Simian adenoviruses are in the genus Mastadenovirus of the family Adenoviridae. This family is composed of non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect a wide range of animals. Mastadenoviruses infect mammals, including non-human primates and humans. The close genetic relatedness between simian and human adenoviruses, with its associated potential for the cross-species transmission of zoonotic adenoviruses from monkeys to humans and vice versa, poses important health concerns and thus warrants research. In this study, we performed a molecular survey of adenoviruses in monkeys in Thailand. Most of the monkeys tested here were long-tailed macaques, free-ranging in areas close to human territories across four provinces: Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Lopburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan. A few fecal samples from captive wild monkeys (a stump-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaques, gibbons, and a leaf monkey) were also tested. Adenoviruses were detected in 33.3% (70 out of 210) of the fecal or rectal swab samples. The viruses identified in these samples included Simian adenovirus (SAdV)-A, SAdV-B, SAdV-H, Human adenovirus (HAdV)-D, HAdV-G, and a bat adenovirus species. One SAdV-B, SAdV RBR-7-10, was isolated from a long-tailed macaque fecal sample and identified by mass spectrometry. Its full hexon gene and nearly complete DNA polymerase gene were sequenced and analyzed, and the virions were imaged by transmission electron microscopy. The SAdV RBR-7-10 virus was used in a microneutralization assay to identify virus-specific antibodies in monkey plasma and human serum samples collected from the same areas in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. We detected neutralizing antibodies against SAdV RBR-7-10 in 6.8% (n = 103) of the monkey samples but in none of the 125 human serum samples, suggesting no cross-species transmission of SAdV RBR-7-10 occurred at this study site. Nevertheless, a continuing surveillance of pathogens in monkeys is warranted to quickly identify possible emerging zoonotic outbreaks.

Keywords: Adenovirus; Long-tailed macaque; Monkey; PCR; Seroprevalence.