Immunohistochemical detection of the p27 capsid protein of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in bone-marrow cells of seropositive goats.
Bone-marrow samples were collected from 48 CAEV-seropositive, symptomless goats (30 kids, 18 adults). The samples were formalin-fixed and processed for histological examination. In addition, all samples were examined immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody (1A7) against the p27 capsid protein of maedi-visna virus, an antibody which cross-reacts with the Ca-p27 of CAEV. Samples from 16 goats (10/30 kids, 6/18 adults) showed positive immunolabelling of bone-marrow stromal cells (fibrocytes, endothelial cells and adipocytes) and of scattered macrophages, whereas haematopoietic cells were negative. The detection of viral Ca-p27 protein in bone-marrow fibrocytes was consistent with previous in-vitro studies which indicated that such cells are semi-permissive for CAEV infection. It is speculated that bone-marrow stromal cells represent a viral reservoir in symptomless animals.
Grossi
P
P
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lombardia-Emilia Romagna, Via Celoria 12, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Giudice
C
C
Bertoletti
I
I
Cioccarelli
G
G
Brocchi
E
E
Cammarata
G
G
Gelmetti
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D016088:Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006041:Goats; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins