Establishing specific retrovirus-free breeding colonies of macaques: an approach to primary screening and surveillance

Abstract

For reasons of occupational safety and animal health, as well as to improve the quality of nonhuman primates used in biomedical research, the establishment and maintenance of specific retrovirus-free breeding colonies of macaques (genus Macaca) are now high priorities. Sensitive and specific screening tests are now available for use in identifying macaques infected with the exogenous simian retroviruses simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), simian T-lymphotropic virus (STLV), and simian type D retrovirus (SRV/D). A testing algorithm of repeated antibody screening by enzyme immunoassay with confirmatory testing of enzyme immunoassay-reactive sera by Western blot (immunoblot) has proved adequate for identification and exclusion of SIV- and STLV-infected animals in five facilities. In follow-up testing of animals seronegative on primary screening, seroconversions to these two viruses have been rare (0% and < 0.01%, respectively). The testing algorithm for SRV/D must include virus isolation in addition to antibody screening, as some SRV/D-infected animals lack detectable antibody or exhibit a prolonged interval between infection and seroconversion. This parallel testing for SRV/D antibody and virus is critical, especially during primary screening of potential specific pathogen-free stock obtained from external sources. "Indeterminate" immunoblot results, particularly for SRV/D, continue to pose a problem of interpretation. However, preliminary results indicate that newer diagnostic test methods, such as polymerase chain reaction for amplification of proviral DNA, will be useful in resolving SRV/D infection status and will contribute substantially to specific pathogen-free colony development and maintenance.