1-4
5-7
1-4
5-7
Department of Pathology, University Hospital and Medical Center, State University of New
York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook,NY 11794 and Department of Laboratories, North Shore
University Hospital- NYU School ofMedicine,Manhasset, NY 11030
Strains within the subfamily Spumavirus (“foamy viruses”, “foamy agent’) in the
Family Retroviridae, are common infectious agents in primates and cell cultures
derivedfrom these animals (13,18). Spumavirus proviral DNA, antibodies and/or
infectious particles, have been detected in humans, specifically among
accidentally exposed laboratory personnel (1,11). AlthoughSpumavirus strains
are not considered human pathogens, the ability of this retrovirus to affect long
term human infections has elicited concern among some medical professionals
(17). Accordingly, a need exists to define the infectivity/persistence of this virus in
commonly used laboratory media, water, and viricidal agents.
The infectivity/persistence of a previously characterized Spumavirus strain
(Asian Old World monkey Strain SV-522; 7), was investigated in common
laboratory media, reagents, viricidal agents, and water, which consisted of
Earle’s minimal essential medium (EMEM) containing 0% fetal bovine serum
(EMEM-0%), EMEM-2%, EMEM-10%, heat inactivated and non-heat inactivated
human serum; Chlamydiatransport medium (CTM), phosphate-buffered saline
(PBS), distilled, estuarine, and marine water, 70% ethyl alcohol, and 10% sodium
hypochlorite.Infectivity titers were monitored at time zero to periods up to 10
and/or23o C (5).
Spumavirus was reisolated from all media and waters after 5 days at 23oC,
and in EMEM-10% after 7 days (Fig. 1). The virus was detected in CTM, EMEM-
2%, EMEM- 10%, estuarine and marine waters after 7 days at 4oC (Fig. 2).
Enhanced viral persistence at reduced temperatures and in the presence of
elevated concentrations of organic supplements in media, have long been
recognized(4,12). The failure to discern differences in Spumavirus infectivity at
C in the presence or absence of organic media supplements (except EMEM-
10%) notwithstanding, may be explained by a masking effect imparted by the
suboptimal maintenance temperature.
Our data show no long term survival ofSpumavirus in distilled, estuarine, or
marine waters (i.e., the virus was not detected after 7 days) . These pure system
studies concur with earlier reports, wherein increased salinity and media of
differing ionic strengths, afforded no significant viral stabilizing effects (6,8,21).
Spumavirus infectivity was undetectable after 30 s in the presence of 70%
ethanol or 10%sodium hypochlorite. Ethanol solubilizes viral envelope
phospholipids. Sodium hypochlorite, serves as a strong oxidizing agent, similarly
rendering the virus innocuous (19,23). Such chemically induced loss of viral
infectivity has been described earlier utilizing the related human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1; 10,14).
After a 30 min incubation at 23oC, Spumavirus infectivity in normal but not
heat-inactivated human serum was found to increase by a factor of almost 2 log
10
(viz., 5.4 X 106vs 3.6 X 104TCID/ml, respectively). Among other retroviruses
50
such as,the HIV-1 andthe human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1
(HTLV-1) , deposition of early complement breakdown products on the surface of
cell-free particles have been suggested to enhance binding to complement
; Enhancedin vitro infectivityin turn, has been
shown to occur (15,22). Inasmuch as human fibroblasts contain CR+sites, along
with the Spumavirus being refractory in part to complement inactivation, it would
not be unreasonable to speculate that enhanced Spumavirus infectivity might
similarly reflect the virion’s interaction with one or more complement system
products in human serum (3,9,20).
These data report for the first time, the effect of common laboratory media,
viricidal agents, and selected pure system environmental waters, on the
infectivity/persistence ofSpumavirus. Among the media/waters tested, virus
infectivity was reduced to non-detectable levels after 5 to 7 days. 70% ethanol
and 10% sodium hypochlorite, were identified as highly effective viricidal agents.
Normal, but not heat-inactivated human serum affected a viral enhancement
effect.
Due to the recognized infectious capability of Spumavirus and its persistence
up to 7 days in commonly used media and waters, appropriate precautionary
measures are needed among laboratorians involved with the
preparation/manipulation of primate cell/organ cultures, and in the handling and
care of primates themselves.
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