AEGiS-11IAC: Isolation of a novel simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV) from pan troglodytes, related to the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-II (HTLV-II).

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Isolation of a novel simian T-cell lymphotropic virus (STLV) from pan troglodytes, related to the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-II (HTLV-II).

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:219 (abstract no. Tu.A.162)
Yang R, McLeod D; Nat. Lab. for Viral Oncology, Bur. of Microbiology, Lab., Centre for Disease Control, Ottawa, Ont. Fax: (613) 954-0207. E-mail: dmcleod@hpb.hwc.ca.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and characterize the HTLV-II related retrovirus from a seropositive chimpanzee indigenous to the tropical western Africa (Gabon)

METHODS: HTLV-I ELISA positive chimpanzee plasma samples were further tested by WB assays using the most advanced HTLV BLOT 2.4 kit (Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore) containing disrupted HTLV-I virions supplemented with recombinant glyproteins specific for HTLV-I and HTLV-II. Specimens reactive to GAG (p19 or p24) and two ENV (GD21 and rgp46-I) were considered as HTLV-I positive, while those reactive to p24, GD21 and rgp46-II were considered as HTLV-II positive. Co-cultures of PBMC from seropositive animals with human mononuclear cells were carried out. Success of viral isolation was manifested by positive RT detection, syncytium formation, RIPA, RT-PCR and solid-media hybridization.

RESULTS: Among three HTLV ELISA positive samples, one was WB positive for HTLV-II, the remainders were indeterminate but closely related. Viruses were isolated from the positive chimpanzee. Results of PCR using primers for pol, tax regions were suggestive of phylogenetic correlation with HTLV-II.

CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-II infections appear to be endemic among African natives as well as Amerindians according to a number of recent studies. Here we report the first isolate of STLV-II, the counterpart of HTLV-II, from an Old World non-human primate. Detailed studies of the proviral DNA should give new insight toward understanding of molecular epidemiology and evolution of PTLVs and human migration.

Keywords: AEGIS, Human T-lymphotropic virus 2, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, HTLV-II Infections, Pan troglodytes, Primate T-lymphotropic virus 3, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Evolution, Africa, Western, Gabon, Singapore, Animal, Human, isolation & purification, therapy, surgery, ICA11

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TuA162