SIMIAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS TYPE-1 (STLV-1) INFECTION IN WILD YELLOW BABOONS (PAPIO-HAMADRYAS CYNOCEPHALUS) FROM MIKUMI NATIONAL-PARK, TANZANIA

Serum and peripheral blood leukocytes from wild yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) were tested for the presence of STLV-1-specifi c antibodies and proviral DNA. Fourteen of 30 sera tested positive by radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) with HTLV-1. Among 36 DNA sample s tested by PCR 15 were positive by double nested PCR for a fragment o f the STLV-1 env gene, the most sensitive assay among PCR tests employ ed. Of 30 animals that were tested both serologically and by PCR in on ly 1 case were the results discordant (FOR-positive, antibody-negative ), The DNA sequences from env (378 bp), pol(212 bp), and LTR (705 bp) were determined for 5, 5, and 2 Mikumi STLV-1 isolates, respectively. The DNA sequences of Mikumi STLV-1 isolates were virtually identical a nd phylogenetic analysis revealed that they were clearly distinct from previously published baboon STLV-1 sequences, including those STLV-1 isolates presumed to be from yellow baboons. The results of this study suggest that reliable placement of individual STLV-1 within the PTLV- 1 phylogeny requires genomic sequences of STLV-1 isolates from wild an imals whose taxonomic identity and geographical origin are firmly esta blished and that the LTR is the genomic region of STLV-1 which is the most informative for cladistic analysis of these viruses. (C) 1997 Aca demic Press.