LAUSR

Abstract: With the objective of detecting the presence of caprine lentivirus (CLV) in ewe milk and in ram semen, ten matrixes and four reproducers experimentally infected with CLV were used. Samples of ewe milk were collected during the four months of lactation, five collections per animal, totaling 50 samples. Regarding the rams, eight semen collections were made per animal, during one year of experimentation, totaling 32 samples. The milk and semen samples were submitted to DNA extraction and the nested polymerase chain reaction test (nPCR) to detect CLV proviral DNA. Eight (16%) of the milk samples were positive in nPCR originating from two ewes. Only one (3.12%) semen sample was positive. The amplification products were sequenced, and were confirmed to be a CLV genomic sequence. Thus, the presence of CLV proviral DNA in sheep milk and semen was demonstrated, confirming the feasibility of infection between species, and alerting to the risk of spreading infections. [Lentivirus caprino em leite e semen de ovinos]. Resumo: Com o objetivo de detectar a presenca do lentivirus caprino (LVC) no leite de ovelhas e no semen de carneiros, utilizaram-se 10 matrizes e quatro reprodutores infectados experimentalmente com o LVC. Foram coletadas amostras de leite das ovelhas durante os quatro meses de lactacao, ocorrendo cinco coletas por animal, totalizando 50 amostras. Quanto aos carneiros, realizaram-se oito coletas de semen por animal, durante um ano de experimentacao, totalizando 32 amostras. As amostras de leite e de semen foram submetidas a extracao de DNA e a prova de reacao em cadeia da polimerase do tipo nested (nPCR) visando a deteccao de DNA proviral do LVC. Oito (16%) amostras de leite foram positivas na nPCR oriundas de duas ovelhas. Apenas uma (3,12%) amostra de semen apresentou positividade. Produtos da amplificacao foram sequenciados, confirmando-se tratar de sequencia genomica do LVC. Dessa forma, demonstrou-se a presenca do DNA proviral do LVC em leite e semen de ovinos, confirmando a viabilidade da infeccao entre especies e, assim, alertando sobre o risco de que a infeccao seja disseminada.