Simian homologues of human gamma-2 and betaherpesviruses in mandrill and drill monkeys

Recent serological and molecular surveys of different primate species allow ed the characterization of several Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) homologues in macaques, African green monkeys, chimpanzees, and gori llas. Identification of these new primate rhadinoviruses revealed the exist ence of two distinct genogroups, called RV1 and RV2. Using a degenerate con sensus primer PCR method for the herpesvirus DNA polymerase gene, the prese nce of KSHV homologues has been investigated in two semi-free-ranging colon ies of eight drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus), five mandrill (Mandrillus sphi nx), and two hybrid (Mandrillus leucophaeus-Mandrillus sphinx) monkeys, liv ing in Cameroon and Gabon, Central Africa. This search revealed the existen ce of not only two distinct KSHV homologues, each one belonging to one of t he two rhadinovirus genogroups, but also of two new betaherpesvirus sequenc es, one being close to cytomegaloviruses and the other being related to hum an herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and -7). The latter viruses are the first s imian HHV-6 and -7 homologues identified to date. These data show that mand rill and drill monkeys are the hosts of at least four novel distinct herpes viruses. Moreover, mandrills, like macaques and African green monkeys, harb or also two distinct gamma-2 herpesviruses, thus strongly suggesting that a second gamma-2 herpesvirus, belonging to the RV2 genogroup, may exist in h umans.