HUMORAL ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS INFECTION IN CATTLE AND SHEEP

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (3) , 1118-1123
Abstract
Cattle (345) from 7 herds with a history of lymphosarcoma were tested for antibody [Ab] to BLV [bovine leukemia virus] antigens [Ag] by immunodiffusion using a BLV glycoprotein with a MW of 60,000 as Ag and radioimmunoassay using a BLV glycoprotein with a MW of 60,000 and a BLV protein with a MW of 24,000 as Ag. The 3 tests under comparison agreed for 335 animals, 240 being negative in the 3 tests and 95 being positive. Results were variable in 10 cases only. Glycoprotein (MW of 60,000) Ab titers were systematically higher than were protein (MW of 24,000) Ab titers in bovine sera and milk and in sera of experimentally infected sheep. In the latter case, Ab to BLV Ag reached maximal values at death in the tumor phase of the disease. Ratios of serum anti-glycoprotein titer to milk titer varied between 4 and 117, showing that if milk pools are used in surveys of bovine leukemia virus infection, use of very sensitive detection techniques is mandatory.