How simian foamy virus spreads from primates to people
Official title: Epidemiological and Molecular Aspects of the Interspecies Transmission of Foamy Viruses From Monkeys to Humans: A Model of the Early Stages of Viral Emergence.
Run by Institut Pasteur · NCT03225794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether people living in rural Cameroon who have contact with nonhuman primates carry simian foamy virus and how often it jumps to humans.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 5 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1600 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Institut Pasteur Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 1 site (Yaoundé) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2010 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 22, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT03225794 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 5 years and older living in rural areas of Cameroon who may have contact with nonhuman primates and can provide written consent.
✕Probably not a fit
People younger than 5, those not living in the target rural areas of Cameroon, or individuals without primate exposure are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will perform microbiological monitoring of people aged 5 and older living in rural zones of Cameroon to detect simian foamy virus infection. Participants will provide informed consent and biological samples that are screened for viral markers and sequenced when positive. The work links human sample results with patterns of animal contact to document early cross‑species transmission events. Findings will be analyzed at Centre Pasteur du Cameroun to map occurrence and genetic relationships between primate and human viruses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early human infections and guide prevention efforts to reduce future viral emergence from primates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational work in Central Africa has detected simian foamy virus in people exposed to primates, so the approach is established though still limited in scope.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Living in a rural zone of Cameroon * Being \> 5 yrs old * Having received study information and having provided written consent for self and children, if applicable (for all phases) Exclusion Criteria: * Having refused to provide consent * Being less than 5 years old
Where it's running
-
Centre Pasteur du CAmeroun
Yaoundé, Cameroon Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Antoine GESSAIN, MD — Institut Pasteur
- Study coordinator: Antoine GESSAIN, MD
- Email: antoine.gessain@pasteur.fr
- Phone: +33 1 45 68 89 37
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
MOPEVAC-Las vaccine in healthy adults to test safety and immune response for Lassa fever
A small study in healthy adults checks if MOPEVAC-Las is safe and can trigger an immune response, trying different dose levels.
-
Testing for viruses after a monkey bite
We will test adults who were recently bitten by a monkey or who have a history of monkey bites to see if they carry simian viruses such as STLV-1 or SFV using blood and saliva samples.
-
Speech therapy to improve lip-reading for people who use hearing aids
This will see if speech therapy for lip-reading improves visual speech recognition in adults with moderate-to-severe hearing loss who wear hearing aids.
-
How breast milk affects virus infectivity and transmission
This project will test whether components of donated breast milk change how viruses such as HTLV-1, Zika, dengue, yellow fever, and tick-borne encephalitis infect cells and could affect transmission.
-
Exploring immune responses to yellow fever vaccination
This study is testing whether yellow fever and typhoid vaccines can boost the immune system's ability to fight off other infections, and it involves collecting blood samples from participants after they get vaccinated.
-
Observing health issues faced by travelers
This study is trying to find out how often travelers get sick when visiting emerging countries and what factors might increase their risk, so we can give better advice to help keep them healthy.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.