title: Maedi-visna in sheep: host-virus interactions and utilization as a model.
abstract: Controlled animal experiments with the ovine maedi-visna virus, the prototype lentivirus, have been carried out for almost 40 years. This non-oncogenic virus leads to a life-long, persistent infection with slow development of lesions in the lungs and in the central nervous system. The virus is present in many cells in a DNA provirus state and its replication and expression is highly restricted in vivo. The basic biological features of maedi-visna virus are quite similar to those of HIV and this ovine lentiviral disease may be useful as a model for infection with human lentiviruses.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur, Reykjavík.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pétursson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pálsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Georgsson
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011021:Pneumonia, Progressive Interstitial, of Sheep / Q000382:microbiology*; D012756:Sheep; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000502:physiology*