title: Prevalence and molecular characterization of the polymerase gene of gibbon lymphocryptovirus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphocryptovirus (LCV) is found in various non-human primates. As a herpesvirus naturally infecting gibbons it is closely related to human Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with which it shares considerable genetic, biological and epidemiologic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected blood samples from 70 gibbons (51 Hylobates lar, 18 Hylobates pileatus and 1 Hylobates agilis) for further separation into serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 13 of 70 (18.6%) sera were serologically positive for human EBV IgG but 64 of 70 (91.4%) PBMCs yielded the partial LCV DNA polymerase gene by semi-nested PCR, which we subjected to direct sequencing. All sequences showed 84% nucleic acid and 91% amino acid identity to human EBV. Phylogenetic tree analysis demonstrated gibbon LCVs clustered separately from other gammaherpesvirinae but closely related to LCV of other species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on LCV DNA detection, we discovered a high prevalence of LCV infection among gibbons. Further characterization of non-human primate LCV might thus provide new insight into both evolution and pathogenicity of gammaherpesvirinae.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis Research, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Piraya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phakdeewirot
authors.forename: Sunchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payungporn
authors.forename: Salin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chutinimitkul
authors.forename: Apiradee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theamboonlers
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Poovorawan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006922:Hylobates / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D018143:Lymphocryptovirus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase