The biology of maedi-visna virus--an overview.

This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the biology of maedi-visna virus (MVV), the prototype virus of the family lentivirinae. The paper provides a short overview of the historical background to the discovery of MVV. Detailed descriptions of the structure and organization of the MVV genome and of the virion encoded polypeptides are given and the MVV life cycle in vitro and in vivo are compared and contrasted and the tropism of the virus discussed. The clinical consequences of infection are considered and the mode of transmission, immune response to the virus and possible mechanisms of pathogenesis are discussed.