Several cell lines representing different species and cell types were
tested for simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1) infection. SFV-1 infectio
ns were monitored by polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcriptase,
cytopathology, and immunofluorescent assays. All cells tested were pe
rmissive for SFV-1, demonstrating that SFV-1 has a broad host range wi
th respect to species and cell types. Infected fibroblasts, epithelial
cells, and neural cells all showed extensive cytopathology that is ch
aracteristic of foamy virus infection. No cytopathology was induced in
T cell-derived Jurkats and Hut-78 cell lines. The cytopathic effects
in B and macrophage originated cells were delayed by several days. Cyt
opathology in these cell lines was not as dramatic as seen in the infe
cted fibroblast and epithelial cells. The reverse transcriptase values
in the SFV-1 infected lymphoid and macrophage cell lines were several
fold lower than that of the fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Therefor
e, SFV-1 appears to establish a low level persistent infection in lymp
hoid and macrophage cell lines.