PRODUCTIVE REPLICATION OF CAPRINE ARTHRITIS-ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS IS ASSOCIATED WITH INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV), an ungulate lentivirus, c auses a natural infection in goats. The present report demonstrates th at in vitro, CAEV infection is associated with apoptosis, characterize d by morphological changes such as condensation of chromatin and the a ppearance of apoptotic bodies. The presence of DNA fragments was docum ented by the appearance of a DNA 'ladder' in agarose gel electrophores is, as well as by in situ end-labelling of DNA ends. In addition, Row cytometric analyses revealed the presence of a hypodiploid peak that g radually appeared as virus infection progressed.