NATURAL MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS - ROLE OF BLOODSUCKING INSECTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (7) , 1089-1092
Abstract
The development of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection was studied in 14 noninfected young adult cattle exposed to 25-30 BLV-infected cows in an area of approximately 0.5 ha. Of 7 cattle (group 1) exposed beginning in July and Aug. (midsummer) of 1976, 4 were infected by Oct. and all 7 by Nov. (4 mo. exposure). Of 7 cattle (group 2) exposed from Feb. 1977 (midwinter), all remained negative for 3 mo. and only 1 was positive after 6 mo. By Oct. 1977, 4 cattle in this group were infected, indicating that contact transmission of BLV is prevalent during the summer months. This, and the fact that BLV-infected lymphocytes were recovered from tabanids allowed to feed on a BLV-positive cow, supports the idea that bloodsucking insects play a major role in the spread of BLV.