Discovery of Novel Herpes Simplexviruses in Wild Gorillas, Bonobos, and Chimpanzees Supports Zoonotic Origin of HSV-2

Abstract Viruses closely related to human pathogens can reveal the origins of infectious diseases. Human herpes simplexvirus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) are hypothesized have arisen via host-virus codivergence cross-species transmission. We report discovery novel simplexviruses during a large-scale screening fecal samples from wild gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that, contrary expectation, these African apes all more HSV-2 than HSV-1. Molecular clock-based hypothesis testing suggests divergence between HSV-1 great ape likely represents event humans gorillas. The infecting subsequently experienced multiple transmission events over past 3 My, most recent which occurred bonobos around Ma. These findings revise our understanding suggest that is one earliest zoonotic pathogens.