Studies on the prevalence of type C virus associated with gibbon hematopoietic neoplasms.

Gibbon malignancy frequently involves the hematopoietic system and can occur in clusters. Virus isolated from gibbon neoplasms possessed typical type C virus morphology, and the virion measured 100 nm in diameter with an electron-dense nucleoid measuring approximately 75 nm. The virus incorporated 3H-uridine into the nucleic acid and rested at a buoyant density of 1.14-1.16 g/cm3. Intra-and interspecific antigenic determinants were present, and the intraspecific antigenic determinant was shared with the woolly monkey sarcoma virus but not with feline or murine type C viruses. The virus and antibody reactive to the virus are more prevalent in gibbon groups that experience leukemia than those free of hematopoietic neoplasms.