CHARACTERIZATION OF A SIMIAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS FROM A WILD-CAUGHT ORANGUTAN (PONGO-PYGMAEUS) FROM KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

In a recent serological survey among 143 excaptive orang-utans two ind ividuals were found that reacted positive in an ELISA detecting antibo dies which cross-react with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antigens. Infection of both animals with an HTLV-I or simian T-lympho tropic virus (STLV)-like virus was confirmed by Western blot analysis. A third wild-caught animal, which was not part of the original serolo gical survey, was also found to be infected with an HTLV-related virus in a diagnostic PCR assay and Western blot assay. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 709 bp PCR fragment from the tax/rex region of the HT LV/STLV genome confirmed infection of orangutans with an STLV similar to but clearly distinct from other Asian STLVs.