title: The origin of HIV-1, the AIDS virus.
abstract: This article proposes a series of experiments to determine if cows and sheep could be used as animal models for HIV-1, the AIDS virus. To justify this effort, a substantial case is presented that HIV-1 is a natural recombinant of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) and Visna Virus. This natural recombinant may have been inadvertently transferred to humans through the Intensified Smallpox Eradication Program conducted in sub-Saharan Africa in the late 1960s and most of the 1970s.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siefkes
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012756:Sheep; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012900:Smallpox Vaccine