Simian Foamy Virus Infections in a Baboon Breeding Colony

The prevalence, transmission, and variation of simian foamy viruses (SFVs) in baboons was investigated. Over 95% of adult baboons in the breeding colony as well as recently imported adult animals had high titers of anti-SFV serum IgG. Maternal antibody was detectable in infants' serum up to 6 months of age. Approximately 30% of infants in breeding harems experienced SFV infections by 1 year of age. Shedding of SFV in oral secretions was common, with 13% of samples from normal adult animals and 35% from immunosuppressed animals containing infectious SFV. SFV was isolated from three baboon subspecies (olive, yellow, and chacma baboons) and sequences from both the pol and the LTR regions of the provirus were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all baboon isolates formed a single lineage distinct from SFVs of other African monkey species. Within the baboon SFV lineage, two distinct clades were apparent, which consisted of isolates from yellow and olive baboons and isolates from chacma baboons. Competition ELISAs indicated that, while SFV isolates of these two groups were very closely related, antigenic differences do exist between them. SFV isolates from a drill and a mandrill were distinct from baboon SFV isolates, both genetically and antigenically.