Experimental transmission of Bovine leukemia virus in cattle via rectal palpation.
We examined whether Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was transmitted by rectal palpation using a common sleeve between a BLV-infected cow and BLV-negative steers. Three of four steers developed antibodies against BLV as determined by agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test between 7 to 10 weeks after the first rectal palpation using common sleeves from BLV-infected cow. In the steers, BLV proviral DNA were detected by PCR 1 to 5 weeks earlier than detection of the antibodies by the AGID test. Our experiments demonstrated that rectal palpation is a potential cause of BLV spread in herds and that detection of BLV proviral DNA in cattle by PCR is useful screening test for early diagnosis of BLV infection.
Kohara
Junko
J
Hokkaido Animal Research Center, Shintoku, Hokkaido 081-0038, Japan. koharajn@agri.pref.hokkaido.jp
Konnai
Satoru
S
Onuma
Misao
M
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary*; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral