1 Isolation and Molecular Characterization of 2 Enteroviruses from Great Apes and Humans in the 3 Republic of Congo : Recombination within 4 Enterovirus C Serotypes 5

Enteroviruses (EVs) are viruses of the family Picornaviridae that cause mild to severe 20 infections in humans and in several animal species, including nonhuman primates (NHPs). We 21 conducted a survey and characterization of enteroviruses circulating between humans and great 22 apes in the Congo. Fecal samples (N=24) of gorillas and chimpanzees living close to or distant from 23 humans in three Congolese parks were collected, as well as from healthy humans (N=38) living 24 around and within these parks. Enterovirus were detected in 29.4% gorilla and 13.15% human feces, 25 including wild and human-habituated gorillas, local humans and eco-guards. Two identical strains 26 were isolated from two humans come from two remote regions. Their genomes were similar and all 27 genes showed their close similarity to Coxsackieviruses except for 3C, 3D and 5’UTR region where 28 they were most similar to poliovirus 1 and 2, suggesting recombination. Recombination events were 29 found between these strains, poliovirus 1 and 2 and EV-C99. The same EVC species detected in 30 both humans and apes in different regions suggest a clonal distribution of the virus in Congo. 31