How common is SIV infection in wild African primates?
We recently did a study in Cameroon on roughly 800 bushmeat samples or pet monkeys of sixteen different species, including mandrills, olive baboons, and agile mangabeys. Of these sixteen species, thirteen were found to be SIV-infected. It means that there is a plethora of SIV out there, with each one of these species having their own strain. On top of that is an increase in bushmeat hunting, and thus an increase in potential exposure to these viruses. What’s the consequence of such exposure? When a person infected with HIV-1 encounters a second, related SIV, a recombination event might occur: The genetic material from the two viruses could blend together, leading to novel varieties. The new forms could be more virulent, or less virulent; they could spread faster or slower. None of this has been documented. On the other hand, you don’t want to just downplay it. Given the magnitude of the current AIDS pandemic, we feel it’s certainly prudent to look into these questions. How bad is the b
