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Excerpt
We report the initial characterization of an EBV-like virus in an STLV I/II sero-negative pigtail macaque with a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/M.F.. Unusual skin lesions developed in a previously healthy adult pigtail macaque housed at the Washington Primate Center. The lesions became ulcerative and extensive, and were accompanied by the rapid deterioration of the animal's general health. Histopathological and immunocytochemistry studies of the lesions demonstrated a CD8+ T-cell cutaneous lymphoma. Primary cultures of cells from a skin lesion and from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMN's) gave rise to two IL-2 dependent CD8+ T-cell lines. Karyotype analysis of the cell lines was normal and electron microscopic examination failed to detect viral particles.. Non-nested and seminested PCR analysis using degenerate primers for the pol gene of herpesviruses, described by Rose et al (1), were performed. A 536bp and/or 236bp fragment was amplified in DNA of the skin lesions, PBMN's, lymph node tissue, and the primary cell lines. Sequence analysis of the 536bp fragment revealed a 90% homology to EBV (Epstein Barr Virus). Similarly, PCR analyses of PBMN's from two pigtail macaques transfused with blood from the original animal were positive various months after infection, suggesting effective transmission of the agent; however, both animals remain asymptomatic at the present time. Cross-species transmission experiments into New Zealand white rabbits and Rhesus macaque are ongoing. Further studies will allow to determine the phylogenetic relationship of this herpesvirus to other known members of this group and better characterize it's pathogenicity.
