Some characteristics of a retrovirus isolated from transformed bovine cells.

A novel retrovirus has been isolated from bovine cells transformed after cocultivation with leukocytes from an animal suffering from sheep-associated bovine malignant catarrhal fever. Morphologically and in its morphogenesis the virus resembles the type D Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) as well as the ovine jaagsiekte retrovirus (JSRV). It is also serologically related to these two viruses, whereas a relationship to other known bovine retroviruses was not detected. However, its density of 1.16 g/ml in sucrose and the preference of its reverse transcriptase for manganese ions are closer to the characteristics of type C retroviruses. Unsuccessful attempts at transmission suggest that the virus may be defective in some function affecting its infectivity.