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In a recent serological survey among 143 excaptive orang-utans two individuals were found that reacted positive in an ELISA detecting antibodies which cross-react with human T-lympho- tropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antigens. Infection of both animals with an HTLV-I or simian T-lympho- tropic virus (STLV)-like virus was confirmed by Western blot analysis. A third wild-caught animal, which was not part of the original serological survey, was also found to be infected with an HTLV- related virus in a diagnostic PCR assay and Western blot assay. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 709 bp PCR fragment from the tax/rex region of the HTLV/STLV genome confirmed infection of orangutans with an STLV similar to but clearly distinct from other Asian STLVs.
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