Survey of captive cynomolgus macaque colonies for SRV/D infection using polymerase chain reaction assays.
The exogenous simian type D retroviruses (SRV/Ds) are prevalent in macaque monkeys and sometimes cause immunodeficiency with anemia, weight loss, and persistent unresponsive diarrhea. SRV/D isolates are classified as subtypes 1 to 6, and the entire sequences of the gag region of SRV/D-1, -2, and -3 and SRV/D-Tsukuba (SRV/D-T) have been determined. We designed specific primers in the gag region of SRV/D-T that enabled us to directly detect by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) SRV/D-T proviral DNA sequences in DNA extracted from whole blood. Using this assay and another PCR assay that detects multiple SRV/D subtypes, we performed a survey for SRV/D infection in our specific pathogen-free (SPF) and conventional colonies at Tsukuba Primate Center (TPC). In the SPF colony, no SRV/D signal was detected in any animal. On the other hand, SRV/D-T was detected in 11 of 49 animals (22.5%) in the conventional colony. SRV/D-T was the only SRV/D subtype detected. Consequently, SRV/D-T is the major SRV/D subtype present in cynomolgus monkeys at TPC.
Hara
Masayuki
M
Tsukuba Primate Center for Medical Science National Institute Infectious Diseases (NIID), 1 Hachimandai, Tsukuba, 305-0843 Japan.
Kikuchi
Toshihiko
T
Ono
Fumiko
F
Takano
Jun-ichirou
J
Ageyama
Naohide
N
Fujimoto
Koji
K
Terao
Keiji
K
Baba
Tadashi
T
Mukai
Ryozaburo
R
D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015750:Genes, gag; D006306:Health Surveys; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015301:Retroviruses, Simian / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D004279:DNA, Viral