Viral status and antibody response in cattle inoculated with recombinant bovine leukemia virus-vaccinia virus vaccines after challenge exposure with bovine leukemia virus-infected lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) antibody response and infectivity status in BLV-vaccinated cattle after challenge exposure with BLV-infected lymphocytes.


METHODS
Steers were inoculated with vaccinia virus constructs expressing the gag, pol, and env genes of the BLV or the env gene only of the BLV genome, then challenge exposed with BLV-infected lymphocytes. The steers' BLV antibody and infectivity status was monitored.


METHODS
Fifteen 8- to 9-month-old Holstein steers previously determined to be BLV antibody and BLV negative.


METHODS
1 month after second after inoculation, steers were challenge exposed with 10(6) BLV-infected lymphocytes from a highly infective BLV-positive cow. Serum and blood lymphocytes were obtained regularly for 6 months. The agar gel immunodiffusion assay, ELISA, and serum neutralization assay were used to detect BLV antibody in serum of steers. The sheep infectivity and syncytium-forming assays were used to determine the viral status of the steers.


RESULTS
Differences were seen in antibody responses between the BLV-vaccinated and non-BLV-vaccinated control groups. All cattle were susceptible to infection when challenge exposed with BLV-infected lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the enhanced immune response in the BLV-vaccinated cattle after challenge exposure, none of the BLV-vaccinated cattle was protected from BLV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccination is not an effective way to protect cattle from BLV infection.
Cherney
T M
TM
Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA.
Schultz
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology / Q000592:standards; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000592:standards
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines