Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) detection in semen of endangered goat breeds by nested polymerase chain reaction

Semen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples of four naturally infected, four experimentally infected (endangered breeds) and four non-infected bucks (endangered breeds) were evaluated for the presence of CAEV proviral-DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). Three out of the eight PBMC samples from infected bucks were positive for CAEV-DNA and four out of the eight semen samples were positive for CAEV proviral-DNA. This is the first report describing the presence of CAEV proviral-DNA in semen from seropositive Anglo-Nubian, Moxotó and Canindé bucks, providing useful information towards the design of efficient methods to prevent CAEV dissemination in the endangered goat livestock genetic resources in Brazil.