Experimental infection of Mouflon-domestic sheep hybrids with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Objective-To determine whether monocyte-derived macrophages from Mouflon-do mestic sheep hybrids (Ovis musimon X Ovis spp) were susceptible to producti ve infection with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in vitro and whether experimental inoculation of Mouflon-domestic sheep hybrids with a m olecularly cloned CAEV would result in persistent infection. Animals-5 Mouflon hybrids. Procedure-Macrophage monolayers were inoculated with virus in vitro. Three animals were inoculated with virus intratracheally. Results-Productive replication of CAEV was demonstrated in monocyte-derived macrophages following in vitro and in vivo inoculation. Titer of infectiou s cytopathic CAEV produced by macrophages from the Mouflon hybrids was simi lar to titers produced by macrophages from an infected goat or by synovial membrane cells. Isolation of virus from monocyte-derived macrophages and us e of a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to amplify a portio n of the viral genome demonstrated persistent virus replication in all 3 in oculated animals. Two weeks after inoculation of sheep, approximately 1 of 5,000 monocytes was harboring the virus. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results indicate that Mouflon-domestic s heep hybrids are susceptible to infection with isolates of CAEV that cause infection in domestic small ruminants.