Lentivirus/Small-ruminant lentiviruses

The small-ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are a genetically and antigenically heterogeneous group of viruses infecting sheep and goats. The small-ruminant lentiviruses ovine maedi-visna virus (MVV) and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) cause encephalitis, progressive pneumonia, arthritis, and mastitis in sheep and goats. SRLV isolates are classified into five genotype clusters designated A through E. Maedi-visna virus-like strains belong to genotype A.  Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV)-like strains belong to genotype B.  Genotype A infects sheep. Genotypes B and E infect goats.

SRLV's genome contains the gag, pol, and env structural genes and the vif, tat/vpr, and rev accessory genes characteristic of lentivirus genomes.