Jembrana Disease and the Bovine Lentiviruses

An outbreak of a new disease was reported in the Jembrana district of BaU province, Indonesia, in 1964. At first, it was reported to affect Bali cattle (Bos javanicus syn Bos sondaicus) and buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis), but only Bali cattle were reported in the later outbreaks in Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia. The disease was diagnosed firstly as a rinderpest-like disease and subsequently named Jembrana disease (JD). Due to strict regulation of the exportation of Bali cattle from Bali island to other islands in Indonesia, the disease was confined to Bali island for more than 12 years. The first outbreaks of JD outside Bali island were reported in Lampung Tengah district, Sumatra island, in 1976. Illegal introduction of JD Bali cattle from Bali island was the suspected cause of the outbreak. From Lampung, 3D spread northwards to West Sumatra in 1992, Bengkulu in 1994, and South Sumatra in 1995. The disease also occurred in the Banyuwangi district of Java island in 1978. More recently the disease was reported in the South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan Tengah provinces of Kalimantan island.