Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus can be detected in the peripheral blood during the pre-clinical period of sheep pulmonary adenomatosis.
Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and tissue samples from 36 sheep were examined for jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) by hemi-nested PCR. Animals were classified according to the status of sheep pulmonary adenomatosis (SPA), which was confirmed by pathological examination, as follows: (i) sheep with classical SPA (cSPA, n=10), (ii) sheep with atypical SPA (aSPA, n=6), (iii) non-affected sheep from SPA-affected flocks (in-contact, n=10) and (iv) non-affected sheep from SPA-free flocks (control, n=10). JSRV proviral DNA was detected in the PBLs of 10/10 cSPA, 5/6 aSPA, 4/10 in-contact and 0/10 control sheep. Lung tumours and lymphoid organs were also found to be JSRV-positive. The number of positive PCR results was greater for sheep in the cSPA group than for those in the aSPA and in-contact groups. For the first time, it is concluded that JSRV can be detected in naturally infected sheep before the onset of clinical disease and even before the development of discernible tumours.
González
L
L
Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK1.
García-Goti
M
M
Departmento de Sanidad Animal, NEIKER, AB, 48160-Derio, Spain2.
Cousens
C
C
Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK1.
Dewar
P
P
Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK1.
Cortabarría
N
N
Departmento de Sanidad Animal, NEIKER, AB, 48160-Derio, Spain2.
Extramiana
A B
AB
Departmento de Sanidad Animal, NEIKER, AB, 48160-Derio, Spain2.
Ortín
A
A
Departmento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain3.
De Las Heras
M
M
Departmento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain3.
Sharp
J M
JM
Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK1.
D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D022141:Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000821:virology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011648:Pulmonary Adenomatosis, Ovine / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral