Abstract:
Herpesvirus papio 2 (HVP-2), a neurotropic virus endemic to baboons (Papio species), is associated with orogenital and neurotropic infections. Despite the availability of antiviral therapies, HVP-2 remains a significant concern due to its potential to cause fatal neonatal morbidities and mortalities, particularly in vulnerable baboon populations. This study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence, strain diversity, genetic variability, and phylogenetic relationships of HVP-2 in baboons across various regions of Kenya. A total of 60 baboons, including 51 wild-caught individuals from five counties and 9 captive baboons from the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), were sampled for mouth, genital swabs, and trigeminal ganglia. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to detect HVP-2, followed by sequencing of positive samples to identify strains and explore phylogenetic relationships. The study found that 65% of the baboons were positive for HVP-2, with a higher prevalence in wild-caught baboons (66.70%) compared to captive baboons (55.60%). A total of 28 juveniles and infants were tested, with 16 (57.14%) testing positive for HVP-2. Among five sub-adults, three (60%) were positive, while 20 of the 27 adults (74.07%) tested positive. The prevalence was slightly higher in females (65.9%) than in males (62.5%). Of the 31 baboons that were orally swabbed, 17 (54.84%) tested positive, whereas 22 of 29 (75.86%) genitally swabbed individuals were positive. The predominant strain, A951, an apathogenic strain, was identified across all five counties and in both wild and captive baboons. Genetic analyses revealed low genetic differentiation, as indicated by a low Fixation Index (Fst), suggesting minimal genetic variability within and between the subpopulations, while phylogenetic relationships inferred a close homology to other non-human primates (NHPs) alphaherpesviruses. Importantly, the regional molecular statistics derived from this work, estimating disease burden and identifying vulnerable populations, inform future strategies for conservation of vulnerable primate groups and therapeutic interventions.
