Chemokines belong to a super family of inducible and secreted, pro-inflammatory cytokines. They act primarily as chemoattractants and activators of specific types of leukocytes and are involved in a variety of immune and inflammatory responses. The status and role of chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1 alpha) and RANTES (Regulated upon Activation Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted) in the immunopathogenesis by caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) are not fully elucidated. The objectives of this study were to, 1) determine the expression MIP-1 alpha in goat synovial membrane cells (GSM cells) infected in vitro, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of CAEV infected goats by RT-PCR, and 2) effect of exogenous MIP-1 alpha and on replication of CAEV in GSM cells in vitro. RT-PCR results indicated higher expression of MIP-1 alpha in PBMC of CAEV-infected goats as compared to controls. Similarly, higher expression of MIP-1 alpha was observed in GSMC infected in vitro with CAEV as compared to that in uninfected cells. Exogenous MIP-1 alpha (20 ng/ml) and RANTES (20 ng/ml) significantly inhibited CAEV replication in GSM cells by 75% and 65%, respectively as compared to the replication in GSM cells not treated with the chemokines. Results of this study suggest that CAEV infection may alter the expression of chemokines in goats, which may suppress the replication of the virus.