Serological detection systems for identification of cows shedding bovine foamy virus via milk.
The biology of foamy viruses, their mode of transmission and disease potential in their natural host and after interspecies transmission are largely unknown. To gain insights into the prevalence of bovine foamy virus (BFV) and its zoonotic potential, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were established to determine antibody responses against Gag, Env, and the non-structural protein Bet in bovine serum and milk. In Polish cattle, strong Gag reactivity was most frequent (41.5%) and strongly associated with Bet antibodies, Env antibodies were less frequent. German cattle showed a low overall BFV antibody prevalence of 6.8%. Besides clearly BFV-positive animals, a substantial number of weakly reacting cattle were identified. BFV-specific antibodies were also detectable in milk. BFV was isolated from PBLs and milk cells of BFV-positive cattle but not from antibody-negative or weakly reacting animals. The implications of these findings for the potential interspecies transmission of BFV to humans will be discussed.
Romen
Fabian
F
Dept. Genome Modifications and Carcinogenesis, Research Program Infection and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Backes
Perdita
P
Materniak
Magda
M
Sting
Reinhard
R
Vahlenkamp
Thomas W
TW
Riebe
Roland
R
Pawlita
Michael
M
Kuzmak
Jacek
J
Löchelt
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011044:Poland; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016092:Spumavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014779:Virus Replication; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins