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Seroepidemiologic survey of captive old‐world primates for antibodies to human and simian retroviruses, and isolation of a lentivirus from sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys)
Author(s) -
Lowenstine Linda J.,
Pedersen Niels C.,
Higgins Joanne,
Palus Katherine C.,
Uyeda Ann,
Marx Preston,
Lerche Nicholas W.,
Munn Robert J.,
Gardner Murray B.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910380417
Subject(s) - virology , serology , biology , retrovirus , antibody , simian immunodeficiency virus , simian , virus , immunology
Sera from 526 Old‐World monkeys and apes, representing 50 species and 20 genera and living in US zoos and vivaria, were screened for antibodies to HTLV‐I, HTLV‐III/LAV, and simian‐AIDS retrovirus, type I (SRV‐I). Sera were screened initially by ELISA, and ELISA‐positive sera, as well as ELISA‐negative sera from cage contacts, were further tested by Western blotting. A large number of false‐positive and a small number of false‐negative ELISA sera were identified. Although most true positive reactions were directed to a single retrovirus, a number of individuals from 4 species were positive for more than one retrovirus. Specific seroreactivity to HTLV‐1 was found in 39/526 (7%) animals of 15 species. True positive reactions to SRV‐1 were found in 21/516 (4%) animals, including talapoins and 2 species of macaques. Specific serologic reactions to HTLV‐III/LAV were detected in 23/526 (4%) monkeys. Many of the HTLV‐III/LAV seropositive animals were from one mixed‐species zoo exhibit, containing sooty mangabeys, mandrills, Kolb's guenons, and talapoins. A type D virus was isolated from the blood of 3/10 SRV‐1 antibody‐positive Tonkeana macaques, but from none of 11 seropositive talapoins. A lentivirus was isolated from the blood of 4/7 HTLV‐III/LAV seropositive sooty mangabeys, but not from seropositive talapoins in the same exhibit or from 2 seropositive colobus from another zoo. The sooty mangabey lentivirus produced generalized lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and decreased levels of T4 lymphocytes in 2 experimentally infected rhesus macaques.