Relationship of mitogen reactivity to type D retrovirus infection in Celebes black macaques (Macaca nigra).
The Celebes black macaque (Macaca nigra) colony at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center has a high incidence of an immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by recurrent diarrhea and the development of retroperitoneal fibromatosis (RF). We have examined the relationship of type D viral infection to the immunodeficiency syndrome by surveying the colony for viral infection and for mitogen reactivity. Type D virus-positive monkeys (28% of the colony) have a higher prevalence of diarrhea, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and weight loss than do virus-negative monkeys, and RF has been found to occur only in virus-positive animals. Comparison of the concanavalin A (con-A) and phytohemagglutinin reactivities of the virus-positive and -negative populations has revealed no significant difference. However, within the virus-positive population, those with RF have reduced con-A reactivity and there are both high and low mitogen responders in the groups lacking RF. Thirty-two percent of the virus-positive monkeys are free of clinical symptoms, 40% have clinical symptoms but no RF, and 27% have clinical symptoms and RF. Five of the six monkeys with RF are older than the RF-free monkeys but monkeys are susceptible to type D retrovirus infection regardless of age or sex. The progressive nature of this immunodeficiency syndrome, its broad age range, and the probability that the etiological agent is also a type D retrovirus and the similarity of RF to Kaposi's sarcoma make this a potentially useful model for human AIDS.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D008251:Macaca / Q000276:immunology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A