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Title: Phenotypic alteration of blood and milk leukocytes in goats infected with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV)

Author
item PONTI, WILMA - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN
item Paape, Max
item BRONZO, VALERIO - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN
item PISONI, GIULIANO - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN
item POLLERA, CLAUDIA - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN
item MORONI, PAOLO - UNIVERSITY OF MILAN

Submitted to: Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a debilitating disease of dairy goats. This disease causes a persistent and slowly developing infection characterized by arthritis, reduced milk yield and subclinical mastitis. CAEV is easily spread through the milk to nursing kids and to adults during milking. The disease can affect an entire milking herd. Because little is known about the profile of immune cells in goats infected with CAEV, scientists at the USDA and University of Milan in Italy recently completed a study to determine the changes in the composition of blood and milk leukocytes in relation to CAEV infection. Their results showed a decrease in a number of immune leukocytes in the blood and milk of infected goats that could contribute to the chronic nature of this disease, that could represent a risk factor for mastitis.

Technical Abstract: Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) causes a persistent and slow progressive infection in goats, characterized by chronic proliferative sinovitis, arthritis and, less frequently, pneumonia. Infected goats could also be affected by interstitial mastitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of CAEV infection on the phenotypic composition of leukocyte subsets in blood and milk, during lactation. CD8 positive cells in blood and milk were more numerous in CAEV positive goats when compared to CAEV negative goats. Also, gamma delta TcR positive cells were higher only in blood of CAEV positive goats. In contrast, cells expressing MHC class II molecules were higher in blood from CAEV negative goats, and were higher in milk cells from CAEV infected goats. There was no difference in the number of intramammary infections between CAEV positive and negative goats.