[Detection of SV40 in blood samples from healthy subjects in the Russian Federation by RT-PCR].

: Simian virus 40 (SV40), a monkey polyoma virus, is believed to have been introduced into the human population with a contaminated vaccine used in 1955-1963. Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of SV40 DNA in certain human tumours and normal tissues. We studied the occurrence of SV49 infections in human populations of Russia by RT-PCR analysis of blood samples taken from healthy subjects in different regions of the country. The results confirm the presence of SV40 in subjects of different age including those born after 1970. The significance of human SV40 infection is unknown.