SPECIES-DIFFERENCES IN THE REACTION OF CATTLE TO JEMBRANA DISEASE VIRUS-INFECTION

Jembrana disease virus (JDV), a recently identified bovine lentivirus, causes an acute and severe disease in Bali cattle (Bos javanicus). Cl inical Jembrana disease has not been reported in other types of cattle and this has led to the belief that the disease is unique to Bali cat tle. This study showed, however, that other types were also susceptibl e. Infection of Friesian (Bos taurus) and crossbred Bali (Bos javanicu s x Bos indicus) cattle induced clinical changes and lesions consisten t with those detected in Bali cattle, although they were milder and wo uld consequently have been difficult to detect under field conditions. The inoculated crossbred cattle were viraemic for 3 months and develo ped an antibody response to the virus that persisted for at least 46 w eeks after infection.