Antigenic Cross-reactivity between Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis, Visna and Progressive Pneumonia Viruses Involves All Virion-associated Proteins and Glycoproteins

Antigenic relatedness between the virion-associated proteins of caprine arthritis-encephalitis, visna and progressive pneumonia viruses was examined. Antigenic cross-reactivity was assessed by immunoprecipitation of disrupted, radiolabelled virus with goat, sheep and rabbit antisera, followed by resolution of the immunoprecipitation products by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results indicate that antigenic cross-reactivity between the caprine and ovine virus isolates involves all of the major virion-associated proteins and glycoproteins. The common antigenic determinants exhibited by virion structural proteins are immunogenic in goats, sheep and rabbits.