Spleen Focus Forming Virus (SFFV) is a retrovirus that is known to cause the development of an abnormal growth in the spleen and other hematopoietic tissues, such as bone marrow, in experimental animals. It belongs to the family of oncoviruses, which are viruses that have the potential to induce the formation of tumors.
SFFV is primarily transmitted among animals through horizontal transmission, which involves direct contact with contaminated body fluids or tissues from an infected host. Initial infection may occur through respiratory or gastrointestinal routes, leading to a systemic spread of the virus throughout the host's body.
Once infected, SFFV integrates its genetic material into the DNA of the host's cells, leading to viral replication and the production of viral particles. This eventually results in the development of a condition known as splenomegaly, characterized by an abnormal enlargement of the spleen. Moreover, SFFV can induce the formation of erythroid colonies, which can be detected as foci in vitro or in the spleen of infected animals.
The study of SFFV has provided valuable insights into our understanding of retroviruses, tumor formation, and hematopoiesis. Experiments utilizing SFFV have been instrumental in identifying critical genes and molecular pathways involved in the development of leukemia and other hematological disorders.
Overall, Spleen Focus Forming Virus is a retrovirus that induces the development of splenomegaly and abnormal erythroid foci in experimental animals, serving as a valuable model for the exploration of retroviral oncogenesis and hematopoiesis.
