title: Infection of lung epithelial cells and induction of pulmonary adenocarcinoma is not the most common outcome of naturally occurring JSRV infection during the commercial lifespan of sheep.
abstract: Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) is the causative agent of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA). In this study, we followed over a 31-month period the natural transmission of JSRV in adult sheep and in their offspring. We established groups derived from flocks with either a high or low incidence of OPA and monitored virus transmission, clinical disease and macroscopic/microscopic lung lesions at necropsy. Results obtained show that (i) JSRV infection can occur perinatally or in the first few months of life in lambs and in adult sheep; (ii) only a minority of JSRV-infected animals develop clinical disease during their commercial lifespan; and (iii) JSRV is more readily detectable in peripheral blood leucocytes and lymphoid organs than in the lungs. These data support a model of opportunistic JSRV infection and tumorigenic conversion of type II pneumocytes/Clara cells in the lungs, while lymphoreticular cells serve as the principal virus reservoir.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caporale
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Centorame
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacchini
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Ventura
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De las Heras
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palmarini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D022141:Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011648:Pulmonary Adenomatosis, Ovine / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral