The transmission of Jembrana disease, a lentivirus disease of Bos javanicus cattle.

Abstract

Methods of transmission of Jembrana disease, an acute and severe disease of Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) caused by a recently-identified bovine lentivirus known as Jembrana disease virus, are described. During the acute disease virus can be detected in saliva and milk. There is evidence of direct transmission from acutely affected animals in close contact with susceptible cattle, possibly by virus in these secretions infecting cattle by the conjunctival, intranasal or oral routes, by which it was possible to infect cattle experimentally. During the acute disease the titre of infectious virus in blood is high, about 10(8) 50% cattle infectious units (ID50)/ml, and it is probable that the virus is also transmitted mechanically by haematophagous arthropods. Recovered cattle are also a potential but probably infrequent source of infection; recovered cattle are persistently viraemic but the titre of infectious virus in blood decreases to about 10(1) ID50/ml by 60 days after recovery from the acute disease, and virus cannot be detected in secretions.