Foamy viruses (FV), retroviruses of the genus Spumavirus, are able to infect a wide variety of animal species and replicate in nearly all types of cultured cells. To identify the cells targeted by FV in the natural host and define the sites of viral replication, multiple organs of four African green monkeys naturally infected with simian FV type 3 were investigated for the presence of FV proviral DNA and viral transcripts. All organs contained significant amounts of FV proviral DNA. In addition to proviruses containing the complete transactivator genetaf,proviral genomes carrying a specific 295-bp deletion in thetafgene were detected in all monkeys. As in the case of human foamy virus the deletion leads to the formation of thebetgene that is regarded to be instrumental in the regulation of viral persistence. FV RNA was detected by RT-PCR andin situhybridization only in the oral mucosa of one monkey. No other samples contained detectable levels of viral transcripts. Histopathological changes were not observed in any of the tissue samples analyzed. Our results show that the natural history of FV is characterized by latent infection in all organs of the host and by minimal levels of harmless viral replication in the oral mucosa. The broad host cell rangein vivofurther encourages the development of FV-derived vectors for therapeutic gene delivery.

Restrictive dermopathy is a recently described lethal congenital disorder of the skin with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The rigidity of the skin impairs fetal movements in utero and causes arthrogryposis, as well as highly characteristic facial features and pulmonary hypoplasia. We report two cases of restrictive dermopathy in prematurely born infants, describe the typical pathological findings and discuss this disorder in the context of the fetal akinesia/hypokinesia deformation sequence.

We report on the prenatal diagnosis of a Pena-Shokeir syndrome sporadic case of the 27th week of pregnancy. Typical sonographical features are polyhydramnios, hypoplasia of lungs, foetal akinesia, reduced length of proximal and distal extremities and a striking discrepancy between biparietal and abdominal diameter. Differential diagnosis of polyhydramnios caused by foetal neuromuscular disorders is discussed.