Survey for Antibodies to Bovine Leukemia Virus in Dairy Cattle

Park, No-chan; Choi, Won-pil

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 1986;26(1):61-68.

No-chan Park, Won-pil Choi

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, Kyungpook National University

유우(乳牛) 백혈병(白血病)바이러스에 대(對)한 혈청항체(血淸抗體) 조사(調査)

박노찬, 최원필

경북대학교 농과대학

Abstract

This paper described the distribution and transmissibility of BLV(bovine leukemia virus), the relationship between antibodies against BLV and lymphocyte count in 313 dairy cattle from 36 herds, the clinical signs and hematological findings of 2 lymphosarcomatous cattle in the northern area of Kyungpook. Eighty three (26.5%) of 313 cattle from 36 herds were positive for BLV antibodies and 19 (52.8%) of 36 herds were infected with BLV by the immunodiffusion test with BLV-gp antigen. The rate of BLV infection in cattle varied from 9.5 to 87.5% in 19 positive herds, it was higher in herds pastured during summer and included lymphosarcomatous onset than the other and also higher with the age. Eight (88.9%) out of 9 cattle which showed persistent lymphocytosis by the hematological test were positive for BLV antibodies. After 5 to 14 months, 13 (31.0%) of 42 cattle being negative for BLV antibodies in the positive herds converted into positive. Two lymphosarcomatous cattle were identified to be EBL (enzootic bovine leukemia) by the clinical sign, hematological examination and serological test.