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Hepatitis B Virus in Gabonese Non-Human Primate: Potential Zoonotic Circulation and Long-Term Strain Persistence.

Danielle S Koumba Mavoungou1,2 Larson Boundenga3,4 Sonia E Lekana-Douki1 Neil M Longo Pendy3 Schedy E Koumba Moukouama1 Linda Bohou Kombila1 Gabriel Falque1 Joa Braïthe Mangombi1 Augustin Mouinga-Ondeme5 Vladimir Dedkov6,7 Laurent Dacheux8 Avelin F Aghokeng9 Nadine N'dilimabaka10,11
Affiliations 11 institutions
  1. Unité Emergence des Maladies Virales, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon.
  2. Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale en Infectiologie Tropicale (EDR), Franceville BP 876, Gabon.
  3. Unité de Recherche en Ecologie de la Santé (URES), Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon.
  4. Département D'anthropologie, Université de Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
  5. Unité des Infections Rétrovirales et Pathologies Associées, Centre International de Recherche Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon.
  6. St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute, Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia.
  7. Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
  8. Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Environment and Infectious Risks Unit, 75724 Cedex 15 Paris, France.
  9. Centre de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Leurs Vecteurs (MIVEGEC), Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Déveleppement (IRD), 34000 Montpellier, France.
  10. Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM), Franceville BP 901, Gabon.
  11. Ecole des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires de Masuku (ESMVM), Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (USTM), Franceville BP 901, Gabon.
PMID 42198654 2026 Pathogens eng epublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

Orthohepanaviruses are viruses that infect a number of mammals, including humans and non-human primates. However, previous studies in great apes in Gabon in 2001 found one strain of hepadnavirus (HBV ChBassi strain) displaying genetic recombination between human, gorilla and chimpanzee strains, suggesting cross-species transmissions among primates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of HBV DNA in non-human primates (NHPs) and to compare it with human HBV strains in order to assess the zoonotic potential. We analyzed feces from 1891 NHPs, collected in forests in Gabon, to find human HBV-related hepadnaviruses by amplifying a portion of the S gene using hemi-nested techniques, followed by sequencing. A total of 51 samples were PCR-positive. Thirteen of the fourteen sequences obtained after sequencing were phylogenetically more closely related to chimpanzee HBV strains, while the fourteenth sequence was associated with the ChBassi HBV strain. This study shows that HBV infection is endemic in wild-born great apes in Gabon. The detection of a strain genetically close to the Bassi strain (a potential zoonotic strain) highlights the need for more in-depth studies to provide an effective response as part of the 'One Health' initiative.

chimpanzee Gabon gorilla hepatitis B virus strain little monkey non-human primates Ape Diseases Hepatitis B Hepatitis B virus Zoonoses Animals DNA, Viral Feces Gabon Gorilla gorilla Humans Pan troglodytes Phylogeny

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

2 total
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.88
Key finding

A previously reported HBV strain (ChBassi) from great apes in Gabon showed recombination between human, gorilla, and chimpanzee HBV lineages, suggesting historical cross-species transmissions among primates.

Virus
HBV
Location
Gabon
Supporting text

Previous studies in great apes in Gabon in 2001 found one strain of hepadnavirus (HBV ChBassi strain) displaying genetic recombination between human, gorilla and chimpanzee strains, suggesting cross-species transmissions among primates.

Method
sequence analysis | phylogeny
Study design
phylogenetic analysis
Transmission direction
unknown
Event type
recombinant primate-human HBV strain
Geographic raw
Gabon
Country inferred
GAB
Mechanism types
genetic recombination
Zoonotic Surveillance 1 records
Zoonotic Surveillance Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

HBV DNA was detected in fecal samples from wild-born great apes in Gabon, with sequences closely related to chimpanzee HBV strains, indicating endemic infection and potential zoonotic circulation.

Virus
HBV
Location
Gabon
Supporting text

We analyzed feces from 1891 NHPs, collected in forests in Gabon, to find human HBV-related hepadnaviruses... A total of 51 samples were PCR-positive. Thirteen of the fourteen sequences obtained after sequencing were phylogenetically more closely related to chimpanzee HBV strains... This study shows that HBV infection is endemic in wild-born great apes in Gabon.

Method
PCR | sequencing | phylogenetic analysis
Sample type
feces
Study design
field surveillance
Transmission direction
animal reservoir only
Event type
wild primate HBV screening
Geographic raw
Gabon
Country inferred
GAB
Genes or proteins
S gene