Schweizer M, Turek R, Hahn H, Schliephake A, Netzer K O, Eder G, Reinhardt M, Rethwilm A, Neumann-Haefelin D
Abteilung Virologie, University of Freiburg, Germany.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1995 Jan;11(1):161-70. doi: 10.1089/aid.1995.11.161.
Foamy viruses (FVs) persist in healthy individuals of various mammalian species, including nonhuman primates. Laboratory markers of FV infection are (1) virus in throat epithelium or peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), (2) proviral DNA sequences in PBLs and various solid organs, and (3) antibodies reactive to viral antigens on Western blots, in radioimmunoprecipitation tests, and in immunofluorescence assays. Using PCR and serological tests, we readily detected FV markers in naturally infected African green monkeys, rhesus monkeys, and chimpanzees, as well as in accidentally infected humans. Transmission of simian foamy viruses to humans (by bite or inadvertent laboratory infection) leads to viral markers, without affecting the recipient. Reports on FV-associated clinical disorders (e.g., thyroid or neurological) have remained controversial. In this study we failed to detect, by PCR, viral sequences in the samples from 223 patients, including 16 HIV-infected Africans, 46 Graves' disease patients, and 28 patients with the de Quervain's thyroiditis. Evaluation of 2688 sera from suspected high-risk areas (e.g., Central and East Africa, or high-risk groups such as HIV-infected individuals and patients with AIDS, thyroid, and neurological disorders) did not reveal FV-specific antibodies in a single case. Previously reported FV seroprevalence in various populations has never been verified by appropriate confirmatory tests. The strain of "human foamy virus" has remained a unique isolate. In conclusion, FVs are unlikely--at present--to circulate in human populations.
泡沫病毒（FV）在包括非人灵长类动物在内的各种哺乳动物的健康个体中持续存在。FV感染的实验室标志物包括：（1）咽喉上皮或外周血淋巴细胞（PBL）中的病毒；（2）PBL和各种实体器官中的前病毒DNA序列；（3）在蛋白质免疫印迹、放射免疫沉淀试验和免疫荧光测定中与病毒抗原发生反应的抗体。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）和血清学检测，我们很容易在自然感染的非洲绿猴、恒河猴和黑猩猩以及意外感染的人类中检测到FV标志物。猿泡沫病毒传播给人类（通过咬伤或实验室意外感染）会导致出现病毒标志物，但不会对受感染者造成影响。关于FV相关临床疾病（如甲状腺或神经系统疾病）的报道一直存在争议。在本研究中，我们通过PCR未能在223例患者的样本中检测到病毒序列，这些患者包括16名感染HIV的非洲人、46例格雷夫斯病患者和28例亚急性甲状腺炎患者。对来自疑似高危地区（如中非和东非）或高危人群（如HIV感染者、艾滋病患者、甲状腺疾病和神经系统疾病患者）的2688份血清进行评估，未在任何一例中发现FV特异性抗体。先前报道的不同人群中FV血清阳性率从未通过适当的确证试验得到验证。“人泡沫病毒”毒株仍然是一种独特的分离株。总之，目前FV不太可能在人群中传播。
