ABSTRACT
Background: Differential identification of baboon alpha, beta, and gamma herpesviruses is an essential technology in order to monitor xenozoonotic transmission of baboon viruses to foreign species organ and/or cell recipients. We present polymerase chain reaction techniques that will differentiate known baboon cytomegaloviruses (CMV) from their closely related counterparts found in humans. Methods and Results: Polymerase chain reaction techniques for identification of the known beta herpesviruses commonly present in the baboon are reported. The techniques described also permit the unequivocal differentiation of these virus types from closely related human as well as other nonhuman primate viruses in the family herpesviridae. Methods are based upon sequence analysis of specifically selected genes of baboon CMV. Primer pairs from sequence analyses were selected based upon nonhomologous sequences in gene homologues of human CMV. Unique, baboon species specific amplimers were identified both with ethidium bromide staining and with radiolabeled probe analyses. Conclusions: With the described techniques, it is possible to monitor organ/cell recipients of xenograft transplantation for the establishment of baboon CMV in the foreign human host. Monitoring can be performed throughout the life of the recipient in effort to rule out host susceptibility to baboon CMV, as well as to rule out potential host:donor recombinant viruses formed between the closely related members of herpesvirus family.
