Longitudinal comparison of virus load parameters and CD8 T-cell suppressive capacity in two SIVcpz-infected chimpanzees

In a longitudinal study we address the hypothesis that resistance to disease progression in lentivirus-infected chimpanzees is related to potent non-cytotoxic suppression of virus replication. In a long-term follow-up, the viral suppressive capacity in two simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)cpz-infected chimpanzees was correlated with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and two culture-based virus load measurements. In both animals, quantitative virus isolation tended to decline slowly, whereas in vitro virus suppression was sustained or increased over time. In general, plasma virus loads in SIVcpz-infected animals were maintained for extended periods of time. Based on current assays that measure virus suppressive capacity in peripheral blood, it was not possible to conclude that virus suppression played a major role in the maintenance of the disease-free state in lentivirus-infected chimpanzees.