Evidence for interspecies transmission of small ruminant lentiviruses in sheep and goats in Poland

A fragment of 394 bp spanning the V1-V2 variable region of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) env gene was amplified by nested-PCR from peripheral blood leukocytes of 27 sheep and seven goats from five Polish flocks. PCR products were then subjected to analysis by the heteroduplex mobility assay. SRLV found in six sheep were more similar to caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus, but no viruses closely related to maedi visna virus were found in the infected goats. However, in one sheep dual infection with SRLV belonging to both A and B group was found. The results showed that interspecies infections of SRLV occur in animals living under natural conditions.