Lymphocyte transformation abnormalities in bovine immunodeficiency-like virus infected calves.
Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) is a lentiviral pathogen of cattle which is genetically and antigenically related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). To determine the impact of BIV infection on the bovine immune system we studied the lymphocyte transformation responses of male Holstein calves inoculated with BIV strain R-29 to three mitogens: pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at two and six months post-infection. By six months post-inoculation the response to all three mitogens was diminished compared to control animals and remained depressed 10 months post-inoculation. These results demonstrate that a functional impairment of lymphocytes can be observed early in the course of BIV infection, and prior to the onset of overt clinical disease.
Martin
S J
SJ
University of Maryland Cancer Center, Baltimore 21201.
O'Neill
T P
TP
Bilello
J A
JA
Eiseman
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016087:Immunodeficiency Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
D008934:Mitogens