title: Simian immunodeficiency virus (human HIV-II) transmission in allograft bone procedures.
abstract: METHODS
  Infection of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV, HIV-II) was used to study disease transmission in allograft bone. Four allograft bone processing techniques--fresh, fresh frozen, double freeze-thaw, and double freeze-thaw with chemical decontamination--were evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if SIV could be transmitted in allograft bone and if processing techniques could be used to eliminate the potential for disease transmission.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although the risk of HIV transmission in bone allograft was reported to be low, HIV transmission had occurred. In all cases, frozen allograft was used. Donor screening and serologic testing significantly reduced the risk of transmission, although a window of time existed in which an individual was infected but had not seroconverted. Experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with SIV induced a disease syndrome similar to AIDS and provided an ideal model to study disease transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corticocancellous cylinders were obtained aseptically from SIV-infected rhesus monkeys. The grafts were randomly placed into one of four processing groups and implanted into noninfected animals. The presence of SIV antibody was monitored by serologic testing. After the monkeys were killed, the graft sites were studied by histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals receiving fresh allograft or allograft bone that had been subjected to either single or double -70 C freeze-thaw cycles became infected with SIV. Animals receiving allograft that had been subjected to a double freeze-thaw cycle and chemical decontamination were disease-free after 26 weeks when the animals were killed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that SIV (HIV-II) can be transmitted in bone allograft procedures. Although freeze-thaw cycles and lavaging to remove blood elements can reduce the infectivity of a graft, it appears chemical decontamination is necessary to provide a high level of confidence in its safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Salkeld
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Prewett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology; D003666:Decontamination; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous