ISOLATION OF A NEW FOAMY RETROVIRUS FROM ORANGUTANS

We have isolated a new foamy virus from blood samples taken from two a pparently healthy orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). The older orangutan has since died with encephalopathy after a brief acute illness, while the younger one, his grandson, remains well. These animals and 12 other o rangutans had specific antibodies to foamy virus as measured by immuno fluorescence. The new foamy virus and the antisera showed strong and s pecific neutralization, with only weak cross-reaction with other simia n foamy virus strains. Southern blotting with gag and env probes of hu man foamy virus and PCR amplification showed that the new foamy virus, designated SFV-11, is related to, yet distinct from, previously chara cterized strains om humans, chimpanzees, and monkeys.