1076 - the Effect of Demineralization on Retrovirus Infected Cortical Bone: in Vitro and in Vivo Studies

INTRODUCTION: Viral and bacterial transmission are possible adverse outcomes of utilizing banked tissues for transplantation. Concerns that current freezing and storage practices may not be adequate to inactivate retroviruses were substantiated by recent animal model studies. These studies documented viral transmission from retrovirus-infected, transplanted allogeneic cortical and cancellous bone and connective tissue grafts to recipient animals. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is commonly used as an autograft extender or substitute. A specific process (D-Min®) previously was shown to inactivate viruses using a viral spiking technique. However, the effect of this process on viral inactivation of systemically infected bone was unknown. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether this demineralization process inactivated retrovirus in bones from feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected cats using both in vitro and in vivo test systems.