Cells infected with Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus are detected in the bone marrow of asymptomatic sheep

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a transmissible lung cancer caused by Jaggsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). It is difficult to identify animals infected with JSRV but are clinically healthy. The virus does not induce a specific antibody response and, although proviral DNA sequences of JSRV can be found in mononuclear blood cells, the detection is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of JSRV in the bone marrow of infected sheep and develop a more consistent screening method. Immunohistochemical examination of bone marrow samples from 8 asymptomatic JSRV-infected sheep revealed the presence of positively labelled cells. However, JSRV could not be detected by a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in bone marrow aspirates periodically collected from these animals. Results suggest that JSRV-infected cells may be present in the bone marrow of symptomless animals, but the number is below the detectable level for PCR. Therefore, this technique does not seem to be helpful for preclinical diagnosis of OPA.     

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus found in milk macrophages but not in milk lymphocytes or mammary gland epithelia of naturally infected sheep

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) causes ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. JSRV can be transmitted via infected colostrum or milk, which contain somatic cells (SCs) harboring JSRV provirus. Nevertheless, the cell types involved in this form of transmission and the involvement of the mammary gland remain unknown. We separated adherent cells (macrophages and monocytes) by plastic adherence, and lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and B cells) by flow cytometry, from SCs in milk samples from 12 naturally infected, PCR blood test JSRV–positive, subclinical ewes. These cell populations were tested by PCR to detect JSRV provirus. The ewes were euthanized, and mammary gland samples were analyzed immunohistochemically to detect JSRV surface protein. We did not detect JSRV provirus in any milk lymphocyte population, but milk adherent cells were positive in 3 of 12 sheep, suggesting a potential major role of this population in the lactogenic transmission of JSRV. Immunohistochemistry did not reveal positive results in mammary epithelial cells, pointing to a lack of participation of the mammary gland in the biological cycle of JSRV and reducing the probability of excretion of free viral particles in colostrum or milk.     

A PCR technique for the detection of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in the blood suitable for the screening of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in field conditions

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a naturally occurring contagious lung neoplasia caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). Although no specific circulating antibodies against the virus can be detected in infected sheep, JSRV proviral DNA sequences can be found in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) in clinically affected and in a proportion of in contact animals. In this study, existing hemi-nested PCR procedure is compared with a new one-step PCR technique that was developed to minimise potential DNA contamination and reduce sample and reagent handling. Different blood preparations were assessed and the best results were achieved on DNA prepared from buffy coat. The sensitivity of this PCR was lower in JSRV infected sheep without lesions of OPA than in clinically affected sheep, which indicate that this PCR may not be not fully appropriate for screening of individual sheep, but rather to provide results at flock level. This PCR is the only currently available blood test for detection of JSRV infected sheep and may be useful in epidemiological studies and in control programmes of OPA.     

A clinical case of severe anemia in a sheep coinfected with Mycoplasma ovis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemovis' in Hokkaido, Japan

A 2-year-old East Friesian sheep imported from Australia exhibited severe anemia after contagious pustular dermatitis in Hokkaido, Japan. Hemoplasma infection was confirmed in blood smears. Both Mycoplasma ovis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemovis' were detected by PCR and sequence analyses. In the epidemiological analysis, dual pathogens were detected in 6 of 12 (50.0%) sheep imported from Australia with the infected ewe at the same time, 1 of 5 (20.0%) sheep introduced from a domestic farm in Hokkaido, and in 1 of 16 (6.3%) sheep from an epidemiologically unrelated ranch. It is the first clinical case of sheep to confirm coinfection of these pathogens in Japan.     

Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma not related to jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in a goat

A spontaneous lung tumor in a 5-year-old goat of the Murciano-Granadina breed is described in this paper. Clinical signs of cachexia and tachypnoea were evident, and a considerable amount of white mucous foamy fluid was discharged from the nostrils when the animal's head was lowered. A lung tumor with the characteristics of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma was detected during histopathologic examination. The tumor cells were positive for surfactant proteins C and B, confirming that alveolar type II cells were the origin of the neoplasia. Tumor samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry for the presence of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV), another retrovirus very closely related to JSRV, but all tests were negative. Therefore, this is the first reported case of spontaneous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma not related to JSRV or ENTV infection in a goat.     

Diagnostic accuracy of PCR for Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus using field data from 125 Scottish sheep flocks

Using a representative sample of Scottish sheep comprising 125 flocks, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR for Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) was estimated. By combining and adapting existing methods, the characteristics of the diagnostic test were estimated (in the absence of a gold standard reference) using repeated laboratory replicates. As the results of replicates within the same animal cannot be considered to be independent, the performance of the PCR was calculated at individual replicate level.The median diagnostic specificity of the PCR when applied to individual animals drawn from the Scottish flock was estimated to be 0.997 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.996–0.999), whereas the median sensitivity was 0.107 (95% CI 0.077–0.152). Considering the diagnostic test as three replicates where a positive result on any one or more replicates results in a positive test, the median sensitivity increased to 0.279. Reasons for the low observed sensitivity were explored by comparing the performance of the test as a function of the concentration of target DNA using spiked positive controls with known concentrations of target DNA. The median sensitivity of the test when used with positive samples with a mean concentration of 1.0 target DNA sequence per 25 μL was estimated to be 0.160, which suggests that the PCR had a high true (analytical) sensitivity and that the low observed (diagnostic) sensitivity in individual samples was due to low concentrations of target DNA in the blood of clinically healthy animals.     

PCR examination of bronchoalveolar lavage samples is a useful tool in pre-clinical diagnosis of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte)

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a contagious lung tumour of sheep caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). The disease is a particular problem in flocks in many parts of the world. The aim of the study was to assess screening methods for individual animals as a prelude to future eradication trials. Results of histological examination were used as the standard to evaluate the relative sensitivity and specificity of an established heminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for JSRV proviral DNA from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples. PCR results from tissue samples are included as control data. PCR testing of blood samples was found to have an estimated sensitivity of only 10% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3-20) while the sensitivity of the PCR test on BAL samples was 89% (CI 79-96) in comparison to the results of histological examination. We conclude that PCR testing of BAL samples is an effective confirmatory test for sheep with suspected clinical OPA. It is also a useful tool for the pre-clinical identification of individual infected sheep within an infected flock and therefore may prove beneficial in future control or eradication programmes.     

内源性绵羊肺腺瘤病毒NM株gag基因的克隆、序列分析及蛋白结构预测

提取内源性绵羊肺腺瘤病毒内蒙古分离株（NM）总DNA，参照GenBank中内源性绵羊肺腺瘤病毒enJS56A1株gag基因序列设计1对引物。应用PCR技术特异性地扩增出病毒的gag基因片段，将其克隆到pMD19-T载体中进行测序得到完整的gag基因序列，并用DNAStar软件进行序列分析，分析结果表明，与内源性南非代表毒株enJS56A1（AF153615）的gag基因序列比较，核苷酸同源性为98．9％，推导出的氨基酸同源性为98．4％。与外源性美国代表株JSRV21（AF105220）的gag基因序列比较，核苷酸同源性为89．6％，氨基酸同源性为94．8％。利用生物信息学软件对其蛋白结构进行预测，结果表明gag-enJSRV-NM为一结构松散的蛋白分子，这也是我国首次报道的内源性绵羊肺腺瘤病毒的gag基因的全序列，为我国科研工作者进行更深入的研究奠定了基础。     

绵羊肺腺瘤病毒中国NM株gag基因3''''端951 bp段的分子克隆与序列分析

究参照Genebank中已发表的绵羊肺腺瘤病毒的全基因序列,设计合成一对引物,对JSRV中国NM株的gag基因3'端中主要编码核衣壳(NC)蛋白的基因段进行PCR扩增,产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析,呈现一条约951 bp的特异条带,将其回收后克隆人pMD-18T载体中,并进行序列测定.结果表明,与南非代表株(基因序列号NC-001494)的gag基因序列比较,核苷酸同源性为95.4%,推导出的氨基酸同源性为95%.与美国代表株(基因序列号AF105220)的gag基因序列比较,核苷酸同源性为91.3%,氨基酸同源性为91%.这是我国首次报道的绵羊肺腺瘤病毒的gag基因的一段序列,为我国科研工作者进行更深入的研究奠定基础.     

绵羊肺腺瘤病毒实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为建立检测绵羊肺腺瘤病毒(Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus,JSRV)实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time qPCR)方法,根据外源性JSRV-NM株env基因序列,选其保守序列作为目的片段,设计引物和TaqMan探针,以自然病例的肺肿瘤组织基因组DNA为模板,经PCR扩增目的基因、克隆,重组质粒鉴定,并严格定量后,梯度稀释作为阳性标准品,优化反应条件进行Real-time qPCR扩增,获得的标准曲线为:Y=-3.308X+47.848,线性相关系数为0.991;Ct值变异系数小,并且灵敏度高,初步建立了检测JSRV前病毒DNA的Real-time qPCR方法。应用该方法对不同来源(A、B、C、D、E组)的绵羊外周血及其他组织样品进行测定其前病毒载量。结果显示B组和C组外周血白细胞、肺脏、肺门淋巴结以及鼻液中检测均为阳性,并发现前病毒DNA的载量在肺脏中明显高于外周血白细胞;D组虽未发现有绵羊肺腺瘤(SPA)临床症状,但在肺门淋巴结里可以检测到;E组中1只绵羊的肺脏也检出低拷贝数的前病毒DNA,而在A组中检测结果均为阴性。本研究对检测未知羊群JSRV感染程度及研究SPA流行病学等均有重要意义。     

Colostrum and milk can transmit jaagsiekte retrovirus to lambs

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a contagious disease caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). In the three studies performed, we have obtained data of the importance of colostrum/milk (C/M) in the transmission of JSRV. In the first study, a group of sheep from a flock with a long history of OPA, samples from colostrum and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) were collected. Two specific PCRs (U3-LTR and env of the JSRV) were carried out. Using U3PCR 8/34 sheep were positive in colostrum whereas with envPCR 7/34 were positive. From these animals only one was positive with U3PCR in the PBLs. Evidence of the transmission of JSRV infection by C/M was obtained in two more separate studies. In the second study, PBLs from five lambs from JSRV+ ewes and two from JSRV-ewes were tested by the U3PCR. They were fed C/M by their mothers during 3 months and slaughtered 7 months after birth. Three out of five lambs from the JSRV+ sheep become PBL positive at 3-4 months old and the other two were also positive at 4-6 months of age. One lamb of the JSRV-sheep became also PBL positive at an age of 3 months. In the third study, a group of lambs from JSRV negative mothers were fed with C/M from JSRV+ sheep and housed in separate unit. For comparison, another group of the same origin and maintained in another different unit, were fed with C/M containing a JSRV virus preparation. All lambs were blood sampled monthly and JSRV infection was detected as early as 15 days and several times onwards in both groups. Control groups fed with C/M from JSRV free flock and JSRV blood test negative sheep were always negative. Together these results indicate that suckling is an important natural transmission route for JSRV.     

稳定表达绵羊肺腺瘤病毒表面蛋白A549细胞系的建立

为研究绵羊肺腺瘤病病毒(JSRV)表面蛋白(SU)的致瘤机制,本研究构建稳定表达SU的羊肺细胞A549细胞系.采用PCR方法从含su基因的pGEX-4T-1-SU重组质粒中扩增SU编码序列,将其克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)中,转染A549细胞.通过G418筛选,对转染阳性细胞进行纯化,获得稳定表达JSRV SU蛋白的A549细胞系.以间接免疫荧光及western blot鉴定SU的表达状况,并运用共聚焦显微镜确认SU蛋白的亚细胞定位.结果表明,重组蛋白SU在A549细胞中有效表达,而且主要分布于细胞质中.该细胞系的建立为SU生物学功能的体外研究提供了平台.     

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus is present at high concentration in lung fluid produced by ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma-affected sheep and can survive for several weeks at ambient temperatures

Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) causes a fatal lung cancer of sheep known as ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA). OPA is a significant disease in many sheep-rearing countries and there is no effective method of control. A unique feature of OPA is the overproduction of fluid in the lung of affected animals. This lung fluid contains JSRV and provides a means of transmission through the inhalation of virus. In this study we demonstrated that lung fluid from different OPA cases contained between 10⁷ and 10¹⁰ copies of JSRV RNA per ml. Examination of JSRV RNA survival under conditions that mimic natural conditions suggested that intact JSRV virions may persist for several weeks in the environment. These are the first quantitative data on JSRV in lung fluid and provide valuable information for implementing appropriate biosecurity measures to control the spread of JSRV in the field.     

Development of a polymerase chain reaction method for diagnosis of Babesia ovis infection in sheep and goats

In this study, a pair of oligonucleotide primers were designed according to the nucleotide sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene of Babesia ovis isolated from sheep in eastern Turkey. The primers were used to detect parasite DNA from blood samples of B. ovis-infected sheep and goats by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A 549-bp DNA fragment was specifically amplified from blood samples from sheep and goats, naturally infected with B. ovis. No PCR products resulted from Babesia motasi, T. ovis, Theileria sp. OT1, Theileria sp. OT3, T. lestoquardi, B. canis, B. microti,T. annulata or normal sheep leucocytes DNA using these specific primers. B. ovis-infected erythrocytes with 1% parasitemia were subjected to 10-fold serial dilutions (from 10(-1) to 10(-9)) using an uninfected sheep erythrocytes, and DNA was extracted from each diluted sample for testing the sensitivity of the PCR. The PCR was sensitive enough to detect parasite DNA from the dilution of 10(-5) with 0.00001% parasitemia. This is more sensitive than examining 200 fields under light microscopy. In addition, 98 field samples collected from small ruminanats in eastern Turkey were tested for B. ovis infection. Four samples were positive Babesia spp. in blood smears, 21 samples were positive for B. ovis DNA by PCR. These results indicate that the PCR provides a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of B. ovis infection in sheep and goats.     

绵羊肺腺瘤病毒SYBRGreenI实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根据GenBank登录的绵羊肺腺瘤病毒gag基因序列设计1对特异性引物，经RT—PCR扩增出了276bp的片段。产物经回收与pMD18-TVector连接后转化到基因工程菌DH5a中，提取重组质粒，经PCR及测序鉴定后，作为阳性模板建立SYBRGreenI荧光定量PCR标准曲线，并做敏感性试验、特异性试验、重复性试验和临床检测应用。结果表明，标准曲线循环阈值与模板浓度呈良好的线性关系，产物Tm在82～82．5℃之间，灵敏度为2．22个拷贝／μL，特异性和重复性较好，较常规RT—PCR方法提前1h出检测结果。本试验建立了检测JSRV的SYBR—GreenI荧光定量PCR方法，为该病的早期快速诊断，并定量分析JSRV感染程度奠定了基础。     

绵羊、山羊内源肺腺瘤病毒启动子甲基化修饰检测

为分析绵羊和山羊内源性肺腺瘤病毒启动子甲基化修饰状况,参照绵羊、山羊内源性肺腺病毒gag基因上游非编码区序列CpG岛设计特异性甲基化引物,采用甲基化特异性PCR（MSP）方法检测了5只绵羊和5只山羊胎儿的肺脏、皮肤、血液基因组内源性病毒基因启动子区甲基化情况.结果表明：山羊和绵羊肺脏、皮肤、血液基因组中均存在甲基化和非甲基化的内源性肺腺瘤病毒启动子.     

Application of PCR technique in diagnosis of small ruminant lentivirus infection in sheep and goats

Detection of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) in sheep and goats usually relies on serological testing. In this study, we evaluated semi-nested PCR and nested PCR techniques applied as a diagnostic tool for detection of maedi-visna virus (MVV) and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in naturally infected sheep and goats, respectively. The examination of 193 ovine and 85 caprine serum samples by the ELISA revealed the presence of specific antibodies in 133 (69%) and 18 (21.2%) animals, respectively. Presence of proviral DNA was manifested in 103 (53.4%) sheep and 12 (14.2%) goats. Despite the relatively lower sensitivity of PCR, the fact of detection of proviral DNA in 19 out of 60 ovine samples and 7 out of 67 caprine samples collected from animals previously negative by ELISA was noteworthy. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that combinations of both ELISA and PCR might afford optimal detection of SRLVs infection.     

Detection of enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) in a sheep flock in southern Brazil

Enzootic nasal tumor (ENT) is a contagious neoplasm associated with enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV), which may induce disease in sheep (ENTV-1) and goats (ENTV-2). This study aimed to describe the occurrence of ENT in two Texel sheep (Ovis aries) from a 75-sheep flock, located in the city of Gravataí, southern Brazil. Animals used to be purchased from different origins, and no specific tests for disease monitoring or quarantine procedure were performed. Affected animals presented respiratory distress, anorexia with severe weight loss, and mucopurulent unilateral nasal discharge. Necropsy was performed in both animals and nasal cavity masses were observed. Histopathological analysis demonstrated an epithelial neoplasm compatible with nasal adenocarcinoma. PCR using a protocol that amplifies a 591 bp sequence of 5’LTR-gag region of ENTV1 was performed followed by DNA sequencing. Both samples were positive, and the sequences obtained presented highest identity (97%) with ENTV strain TN28 (GenBank accession number MH899613) detected in a Texel sheep from Scotland. This is the first report of ENTV-1 leading to enzootic nasal tumor in sheep in Latin America, which confirms the presence of the retrovirus in sheep flocks in the Brazilian territory.

     

绵羊肺腺瘤病毒检测方法的研究进展

绵羊肺腺瘤（OPA）是由β-反转录病毒属绵羊肺腺瘤病毒（JSRV）引起的一种肿瘤性传染病,该病潜伏期长,经呼吸道传播,冬季圈养种羊发病率高,目前无治疗措施,病死率为100%。OPA的持续存在对种羊生产形成了潜在威胁并造成较大经济损失,严重危害养羊业健康发展。所以,对OPA的早期精确诊断是防制本病的前提,尤其是在出入境检验检疫过程中对进出口羊的JSRV检测尤为重要。随着分子生物学技术的不断发展,JSRV分子生物学检测方法也得到不断的创新和改进。作者就近年来针对检测JSRV的聚合酶链式反应（PCR）、核酸探针杂交技术、酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、环介导等温扩增技术（LAMP）等方法的研究概况作一综述,为寻找快速准确并适用于出入境检疫的JSRV检测方法和进一步发展研究新型JSRV检测方法提供参考。     

Comparative sequence analysis of major envelope protein gene (B2L) of Indian orf viruses isolated from sheep and goats

Orf virus (ORFV), the type species of Parapoxvirus, is responsible for contagious ecthyma in sheep and goats. In the present report, sequence analysis of major envelope gene (B2L) of four Indian orf virus isolates originating two each from sheep and goats was carried out. These recent isolates belonged to different outbreaks that occurred in Kumaon hills and adjoining plains during 2004-2005. Preliminary screening of the scab samples was carried out by diagnostic PCR. Full-length B2L gene encoding for immunogenic major envelope protein from all the four ORFV isolates was amplified by PCR and the amplicons (1206 bp) were cloned and sequenced. Comparative sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1137 nucleotides (nt) encoding a polypeptide of 378 amino acids (aa). Indian isolates were highly related amongst themselves with sequence identity of over 97% at the nt and aa level. Further, they showed 97-98% sequence identity with sequences of other ORFV isolates from around the world; while 94-95 and 82.7-83.8% sequence identity was observed, respectively, with pseudocowpox and bovine papular stomatitis viruses--the other members of the genus. Phylogenetic analysis also showed that these Parapoxviruses from sheep and goats are closely related to other orf viruses reported worldwide.