USE OF POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR DIAGNOSIS OF TYPE-D SIMIAN RETROVIRUS INFECTION IN MACAQUE BLOOD

We developed a simple and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) met hod for the detection of type D simian retrovirus (SRV) infection (SRV -1, SRV-2, and SRV-3) using whole blood samples from macaques. Each pa ir of primers for the three serotypes of SRV was highly specific for i ts respective envelope proviral DNA and was sensitive enough to easily detect about five copies of the SRV-2 proviral genome. The PCR produc ts mere confirmed by Southern blot hybridization with digoxigenin-labe led internal oligonucleotide probes. For diagnostic purposes the three sets of primers were mixed together. The molecular weight of the PCR product for each of the three serotypes differed. Serotypes were confi rmed by hybridization with a mixture of SRV-2 and SRV-1 and -3 interna l probes. The PCR analysis of 39 whole blood samples correctly identif ied five SRV-1 and nine SRV-8 culture-positive samples. It also detect ed SRV-8 in two culture-negative blood samples from monkeys from which SRV had been previously isolated.