Ovine lentivirus, also termed as small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), includesmaedi-visna virus (MVV) and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), which can infect sheep and goats. SRLVs are wide spread throughout the world causing serious economic implications for animal industry. Breed differences in susceptibility to MVV had suggested a strong genetic diversity in sheep. Genome wide association study (GWAS) indicated that a SNP (E35K) in ovine transmemebrane protein 154 (TMEM154) gene was significantly associated with sheep resistance to MVV and can be used as a molecular marker in sheep resistant selection breeding. Here, we review the progress of E35K mutation in sheep TMEM154 gene and its effects on resistance to MVV, and other lentivirusresistant genes including zinc finger cluster, chemokine reveptor 5 (CCR5), tripartite motif-containing 5 alpha (TRIM5Α), apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypetide like 3 (APOBEC3), developmental pluripotencyassociated 2 (DPPA2) and DPPA4. Furthermore, SRLVs and the epidemic status are introduced. We hope to provide some guidance for sheep re-sistant breeding.