Patho-Epidemiological study of jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus infection in the sheep and goats population, India.

An epidemiological study was conducted along with pathological, immunohistochemistry (IHC) of capsid antigen and molecular detection of jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) causing ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) in sheep and goats population from three states of India viz. Delhi, Gannavaram (Andhra Pradesh), and Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh). A total of 1350 lungs samples were screened and out of which 31 (2.29%) animals were found to be positive [sheep (3.49%) and goats (0.00%)] for JSRV. The prevalence of infection was recorded Gannavarum (20.00%) followed by Delhi (2.10%) and no any positive cases found in Bareilly area. Age wise higher prevalence was recorded >3 year age groups followed by 1–3 years and 1 < year, respectively. Significantly, higher infection was observed in female sheep compared to male sex of sheep. Seasonally, the prevalence of JSRV infection was higher in monsoon (6.00%) followed winter season (3.34%) and summer season. The observations of the present study would provide basis for further an effective explorative surveillance and epidemiological studies to know real impact of JSRV infection circulating in sheep and goats population of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]