Isolation and preliminary characterization of the jaagsiekte retrovirus (JSRV)

Abstract

Jaagsiekte, or ovine pulmonary adenomatosis, is caused by a recently discovered retrovirus. The virus cannot be cultivated in vitro at present, but a procedure is described for the isolation and purification of small amounts in the form of immune complexes with IgA from affected lungs. The virion was shown to possess a 70S RNA genome which can be transcribed by an endogenous reverse transcriptase. Nine polypeptides, ranging in size from 94 000 to 25 000 daltons, were found in purified preparations. Using neutralization of the viral reverse transcriptase and an enzyme immunoassay as criteria, no serological relationship could be demonstrated to representatives of type B, C and C oncoviruses, or to bovine leukemia virus, maedi-visna virus of sheep or caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus.