Oncornavirus-like particles in squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) placenta and placenta culture.

Oncornavirus-like particles similar in morphology to type D particles were observed in 1 of 2 squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) placentas. Intracytoplasmic type A particles, immature virus particles, and mature viruses with eccentric or occasionally centric nucleoids were associated with placental syncytiotrophoblasts. A spike layer typical of type B viruses was not detected in viral envelopes. Onvornaviruses, identical to those previously isolated from squirrel monkey tissues and similar to Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, were seen in cultures derived from the virus-positive squirrel monkey placenta cocultivated with a mink lung culture. The major morphologic difference between the in vivo and the in vitro squirrel monkey virus was in the nucleoid position of mature virus particles.