Update on Small Ruminant Lentivi ruses

Originally these viruses were thought to be species specific. But SRLVs share phylogenetic proximity and natural cross-species infectivity, facilitating infections between sheep and goats and even into wild ruminants.1 Maedi was first described as a sheep respiratory disease in South Africa in 1915.2 Ovine progressive pneumonia virus (OPPV) was first reported in Montana in 1923. The affected sheep were also described as lungers because they lagged behind others in the group.3 Maedi/visna virus (MVV) was reported in 1933 in sheep in Iceland introduced from an importation and dispersion of Karakul rams from Germany.4 Initially, the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) was first believed to be a hereditary disease in Europe due to the observational relationship of clinical disease in certain family lines. In the United States, CAEV was first described as a viral leukoencephalomyelitis in 1974; the virus was isolated from goats with chronic arthritis a few

Automated summary

Originally believed to be species specific, SRLVs have been found to have cross-species infectivity, causing diseases like Maedi, OPPV, MVV, and CAEV in sheep and goats, as well as wild ruminants. These viruses were first reported in various locations including South Africa, Montana, Iceland, and the United States.