Frequent and Recent Human Acquisition of Simian Foamy Viruses Through Apes' Bites in Central Africa

Human infection by simian foamy viruses (SFV) can be acquired by persons occupationally exposed to non-human primates (NHP) or in natural settings. This study aimed at getting better knowledge on SFV transmission dynamics, risk factors for such a zoonotic infection and, searching for intra-familial dissemination and the level of peripheral blood (pro)viral loads in infected individuals. We studied 1,321 people from the general adult population (mean age 49 yrs, 640 women and 681 men) and 198 individuals, mostly men, all of whom had encountered a NHP with a resulting bite or scratch. All of these, either Pygmies (436) or Bantus (1085) live in villages in South Cameroon. A specific SFV Western blot was used and two nested PCRs (polymerase, and LTR) were done on all the positive/borderline samples by serology. In the general population, 2/1,321 (0.2%) persons were found to be infected. In the second group, 37/198 (18.6%) persons were SFV positive. They were mostly infected by apes (37/39) FV (mainly gorilla). Infection by monkey FV was less frequent (2/39). The viral origin of the amplified sequences matched with the history reported by the hunters, most of which (83%) are aged 20 to 40 years and acquired the infection during the last twenty years. The (pro)viral load in 33 individuals infected by a gorilla FV was quite low (<1 to 145 copies per 105 cells) in the peripheral blood leucocytes. Of the 30 wives and 12 children from families of FV infected persons, only one woman was seropositive in WB without subsequent viral DNA amplification. We demonstrate a high level of recent transmission of SFVs to humans in natural settings specifically following severe gorilla bites during hunting activities. The virus was found to persist over several years, with low SFV loads in infected persons. Secondary transmission remains an open question

Energy, substrate and protein metabolism in morbid obesity before, during and after massive weight loss

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of surgically induced weight loss on energy, substrate and protein metabolism of morbidly obese patients. DESIGN: A prospective, clinical intervention study of morbidly obese patients before and after surgical treatment. SUBJECTS: Eight morbidly obese patients (BMI 47.88 +/- 7.03). METHODS: Total energy expenditure (TEE; doubly labeled water method), sleeping metabolic: rate (SMR; respiration chamber), body composition (deuterium oxide component of doubly labeled water), substrate metabolism (48 h dietary records, 48 h urine collection and gaseous exchange in the respiration chamber) and whole body protein turnover (primed-continuous infusion of L-[1-C-13]-leucine) were measured before, 3 and 12 months after vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG). RESULTS: The TEE decreased as a result of a decreased SMR (64%) and non-SMR (36%; P = 0.0011, SMR as a function of fat-free mass (FFM) decreased after weight loss (P <0.05). The physical activity index (PAI), defined as TEE/SMR, was low and was not influenced by weight loss. Protein and carbohydrate oxidation decreased significantly after VBG (P <0.05), although 3 months after VBG protein oxidation did not decrease enough to prevent loss of FFM. The energy used for protein turnover was approximately 24% of SMR and did not change after weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Compensatory processes that oppose weight loss of morbidly obese patients exist, as demonstrated by the disproportional reduction of SMR, and a low PAI, Protein turnover is not a major contributor to the disproportional reduction of SMR