Several cell lines representing different species and cell types were tested for simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1) infection. SFV-1 infections were monitored by polymerase chain reaction, reverse transcriptase, cytopathology, and immunofluorescent assays. All cells tested were permissive for SFV-1, demonstrating that SFV-1 has a broad host range with respect to species and cell types. Infected fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and neural cells all showed extensive cytopathology that is characteristic of foamy virus infection. No cytopathology was induced in T cell-derived Jurkats and Hut-78 cell lines. The cytopathic effects in B and macrophage originated cells were delayed by several days. Cytopathology in these cell lines was not as dramatic as seen in the infected fibroblast and epithelial cells. The reverse transcriptase values in the SFV-1 infected lymphoid and macrophage cell lines were severalfold lower than that of the fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Therefore, SFV-1 appears to establish a low level persistent infection in lymphoid and macrophage cell lines.