Identification of the stumptailed macaque virus as a new papovavirus.

A new viral agent, stumptailed macaque virus (STMV), isolated from uninoculated stumptailed macaque kidney cultures was identified. The virions had the size and morphology of papovaviruses of the simian virus 40 (SV40)-polyoma subgroup, but many of them appeared to have an additional outer envelope. The deoxyribonucleic acid of STMV was a superhelical circular molecule, with a mean length 91% of that of SV40. The antigenic relationship of this virus with other members of the group was examined by immune electron microscopy of isolated virions and by immunofluorescent staining of virus-infected cells. STMV was immunologically distinct from SV40, BK virus (BKV), polyoma virus, and JC virus. Its tumor antigen may be related to those of SV40 and BKV.