Progeny of sheep persistently infected with border disease virus

Most lambs affected with border disease die early in life but those which survive gradually loose their body tremors and their fleece abnormalities become less clear. Seven female lambs persistently infected with border disease virus were reared to maturity and bred from when they were 2 to 3 years old. Two failed to conceive but five gave birth to 6 live lambs with clinical signs of border disease characterized by hairy and pigmented fleece with or without body tremors. The epidemiological significance of persistently infected sheep is discussed.