Maedi-visna virus (MVV) infection of sheep is characterized by slowly progressive arthritis, pneumonia, mastitis and encephalomyelitis. The causative agent of the disease is a virus classified as lentivirus, a subgroup of retroviruses. MVV infection is found all over the world. 

This classification also includes caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), which manifests itself in adult goats mainly in the form of severe arthritis of the carpal joint ("big knee"). 

Animals with CAEV become emaciated despite an intact appetite, and show poor milk yield. Serologic surveys show that CAEV is widely disseminated in goat herds on different continents. 

Kernel CAEV AGID Test Kit are test kits for the serological diagnosis of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis virus (CAEV) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) in sheep or goat by the Agar Gel Immuno-Diffusion Test (AGIDT).