Transmissible lymphoma and simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in rhesus macaques

ABSTRACT-Four rhesus monkeys (Macaca mu/atta) were inocu-lated with a homogenate of a cutaneous lepromatous leprosy lesion from a mangabey monkey (Cercocebus atys). One died of B-cell lymphoma. and another died of an immunodeficiency syndrome. Cell suspensions prepared from the tumor and spleen of the monkey with lymphoma induced lymphoma or an immuno-deficiency syndrome when inoculated into additional young rhesus monkeys. The immunodeficiency syndrome was similar to simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and consisted of oppor-tunistic infections. lymphoid hyperplasia or atrophy. wasting. and syncytial cell formation. Mitogen responses and percentages of T4- and T8-positive lymphocytes were normal until the animals were moribund. Lymphoblastoid cell lines became established in vitro from tumor cell suspensions. These cells were infected with a herpesvirus related to Epstein-Barr virus. In addition, a retroviru