Possible role of infectious simian foamy virus DNA in persistent infection.

Simian foamy virus type 7 (SFV-7) can persist in peripheral blood leukocytes of SFV-7-infected rabbits. Rabbit peripheral blood leukoyctes cultured in vitro did not support the growth of SFV-7, but low titer of virus could be detected after 4 to 5 days incubation. The DNA derived from SFV-7 infected primary rabbit kidney cells is infectious. The presence of SFV-7 DNA provirus in infected rabbit kidney cells during replication may contribute one of the mechanisms of persistance.