DETECTION OF CAPRINE ARTHRITIS-ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Detection of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection in goats is currently limited to serologic testing or cell culture. We de veloped a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect CAEV sequenc es in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), synovial fluid cells (SFC), and milk cells (MC) obtained from infected goats. Results were positive for 18 of 20 PBMC, 8 of 8 MC, and 5 of 5 SFC samples from ser opositive goats, whereas 3 of 33 PBMC samples and none of 8 MC or 5 SF C samples from seronegative goats were positive. Two of the PCR-positi ve and seronegative goats seroconverted upon follow-up testing 2 month s later. This PCR assay provides a useful method for detecting CAEV in fection in goats.