Biochemical characterisation of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Authors: Oliver RE, McNiven RA, Dixon RJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 32, Issue 3, pp 40, Mar 1984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Goat, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Biochemistry/chemistry, Joint/arthrology, Viral, Syndrome, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Species description
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Recently, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) was isolated in New Zealand. The virus induced syncytial cell formation in cell culture, budded from the cytoplasmic membrane of infected cells, was 80-100 nm in diameter, and reacted with both CAEV and maedi/visna-positive antisera. We wish to present evidence that this isolate of CAEV has other biochemical characteristics of the Retroviridue. The two biochemical techniques used were the detection of ³H uridine-labelled virus and the assay for viral RNA-directed DNA polymerase (RDDP). Virus was obtained from the medium of infected foetal goat synovial membrane (GSM) cells. Medium from uninfected cells served as negative controls. Each cell culture was labelled with 8 µCi/ml 5,6 ³H uridine (New England Nuclear) 24 h after passage and the media harvested after 36 to 48 h. The media were subjected to differential ultracentrifugation and the resultant pellets, resuspended in a Tris, NaCI, EDTA, mercaptoethanol (TNEM) buffer, were centrifuged through a 15 to 60 percent sucrose density gradient for 4 or 22 h. The gradients were…

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