Transmission of monkey retrovirus similar to human T-cell leukemia virus by blood transfusion.

Abstract

Transfusion of 15 ml of blood from a rhesus monkey seropositive for human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) antigens to an anti-HTLV negative rhesus monkey resulted in the seroconversion of the recipient after five weeks. Cultured peripheral lymphocytes from the seroconverted monkey expressed HTLV antigens and type C virus particles.