Fall in antibody titer to bovine leukemia virus in the periparturient period.
Twenty-seven cows with antibodies to bovine leukemia virus were bled before, during and after calving. All serum samples were tested quantitatively for bovine leukemia virus antibodies using both the agar-gel immunodiffusion test with a glycoprotein antigen and the radioimmunoprecipitation assay with an internal p24 protein antigen. A significant fall (P less than 0.001) in bovine leukemia virus-antibody titer was demonstrated with both tests at the time of calving, with a subsequent rise in antibody titer within one month of parturition. Bovine leukemia virus antibodies were not detectable using the agar-gel immunodiffusion test in two of these cows at the time of calving.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral