The natural history of non-human GB virus C in captive chimpanzees

J Gen Virol. 2011 Jan;92(Pt 1):91-100. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.026088-0. Epub 2010 Sep 22.

Abstract

GB virus C (GBV-C) is a common, non-pathogenic human virus that infects lymphocytes. Persistent GBV-C infection of humans with coexistent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with prolonged survival, and GBV-C replication inhibits HIV replication in vitro. A GBV-C virus variant was identified in chimpanzees in 1998 and was named GBV-C(trog) or GBV-C(cpz). The prevalence and natural history of GBV-C in chimpanzees remains uncharacterized. We examined the sera from 235 captive chimpanzees for the presence of GBV-C viraemia, viral persistence and clearance, E2 antibody kinetics and RNA sequence diversity. Sequences from six isolates shared more sequence identity with GBV-C(cpz) than with human GBV-C. The prevalence of GBV-C(cpz) viraemia and E2 antibody in chimpanzees (2.5 and 11 %, respectively) was similar to human GBV-C prevalence in healthy human blood donors (1.8 and 9 %, respectively). Persistent GBV-C(cpz) infection occurred in two of the six viraemic animals and was documented for 19 years in one animal. Host subspecies troglodyte GBV-C isolates and published verus GBV-C isolates shared a high degree of sequence identity, suggesting that GBV-C in chimpanzees should be identified with a chimpanzee designation (GBV-C(cpz)). The prevalence and natural history of chimpanzee GBV-C variant (GBV-C(cpz)) appears to be similar to human GBV-C infection. The chimpanzee could serve as an animal model to study HIV-GBV-C co-infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood / virology
  • Flaviviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Flaviviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Flaviviridae Infections / virology*
  • GB virus C / classification
  • GB virus C / genetics*
  • GB virus C / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / pathology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / virology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Prevalence
  • Primate Diseases / pathology*
  • Primate Diseases / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Viral Load
  • Viremia

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HM626487
  • GENBANK/HM626488
  • GENBANK/HM626489
  • GENBANK/HM626490
  • GENBANK/HM626491
  • GENBANK/HM626492
  • GENBANK/HM626493
  • GENBANK/HM626494
  • GENBANK/HM626495
  • GENBANK/HM626496
  • GENBANK/HM626497
  • GENBANK/HM626498
  • GENBANK/HM626499
  • GENBANK/HM626500
  • GENBANK/HM626501
  • GENBANK/HM626502
  • GENBANK/HM626503
  • GENBANK/HM626504
  • GENBANK/HM626505
  • GENBANK/HM626506
  • GENBANK/HM638234
  • GENBANK/HM638235
  • GENBANK/HM638236
  • GENBANK/HM769722