Relative susceptibility of beef and dairy calves to infection by bovine leukemia virus via tabanid (Diptera: Tabanidae) feeding.
Differences in susceptibility of beef (mixed breeds) and dairy (Holstein) calves to infection by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were compared. Transmission was accomplished by interrupted feeding of horse flies, Tabanus fuscicostatus Hine, on a donor cow exhibiting persistent lymphocytosis. Flies were transferred individually from the donor cow to each of 11 beef and 10 dairy calves. Transmission of BLV was accomplished with groups of 50 and 250 flies for beef calves and 75 and 250 for dairy calves. These findings indicate that susceptibility of beef and dairy calves to transmission of BLV by tabanids is equivalent and that BLV prevalence differences previously observed among cattle breeds may be caused by management practices.
Department of Entomology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803.
D L
DL
Hasselschwert
D D
DD
French
L J
LJ
Hribar
D G
DG
Luther
D J
DJ
Leprince
M J
MJ
Van der Maaten
C A
CA
Whetstone
L D
LD
Foil
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004175:Diptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000635:transmission*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity