Presence of pro-lentiviral DNA in male sexual organs and ejaculates of small ruminants

To be able to predict sexual transmissibility of small ruminant lenti viruses (SRLV), it is necessary to know whether or not the virus is excreted in the semen, and under what circumstances. Thus, this research focussed on establishing the presence of proviral DNA of SRLV in semen and in the male ge...

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Published in:Theriogenology Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 433 - 442
Main Authors: Peterson, K., Brinkhof, J., Houwers, D.J., Colenbrander, B., Gadella, B.M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2008
[Oxford]: Butterworth-Heinemann; [New York]: Elsevier Science
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Viral - blood
Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine - genetics
Breeding
bucks
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus
DNA
DNA, Viral - analysis
DNA, Viral - blood
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Genitalia, Male - virology
goats
Goats - virology
Lentivirus
Lentivirus - genetics
Lentivirus - immunology
Lentivirus - isolation & purification
macrophages
Maedi Visna Virus
Male
male reproductive system
monocytes
Polymerase Chain Reaction
proviruses
rams
Seasons
Semen
Semen - virology
Sexual transmission
sexually transmitted diseases
sheep
Sheep - virology
Small ruminant lentivirus
Virus Shedding - genetics
virus transmission
Visna-maedi virus - genetics
Sexual transmission
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus
Small ruminant lentivirus
Maedi Visna Virus
Semen
ISSN:0093-691X, 1879-3231
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Summary:To be able to predict sexual transmissibility of small ruminant lenti viruses (SRLV), it is necessary to know whether or not the virus is excreted in the semen, and under what circumstances. Thus, this research focussed on establishing the presence of proviral DNA of SRLV in semen and in the male genital tract of small ruminants. After initial results established the presence of SRLV in serum, the emergence of proviral DNA of SRLV in semen and presence in blood in a group of naturally SRLV-infected individuals (13 rams and 4 bucks), was followed temporally using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The same animals were also systematically serologically monitored by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) during the breeding season (August–February). A triple monocyte–macrophage count was performed on both blood and semen using a specific monoclonal antibody in conjunction with flow cytometry. The finding that epididymal semen and tissue samples of the testes, epididymides, ampullary, vesicular, prostate and bulbo-urethral glands all tested positive for the presence of proviral DNA indicates that various male sexual organs may contribute directly to shedding of proviral SRLV DNA in ejaculated semen. Our results suggest that small ruminants show intermittent shedding of proviral SRLV DNA into epididymal as well as ejaculated semen. They also demonstrate that a single PCR-negative semen sample cannot be used as a diagnostic tool to predict that subsequent ejaculates will be SRLV-free. No significant relationship was found between numbers of monocytes and/or macrophages in blood or semen and the detection of proviral SRLV in ejaculates.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.10.013
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ISSN:0093-691X
1879-3231
DOI:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.10.013