Relationship of the antigens of bovine leukemia virus to clinical enzootic bovine leukosis in cattle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol1983no18p179-183Keywords:
Antibodies, Blood serum, Bovine leukosis, cattle diseases, IMMUNOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES, Immunoprecipitation tests, Viral antigensAbstract
Serum specimens from 385 cattle over a 24-month period (1981-1983) were examined by agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for antibodies to bovine leukosis virus (BLV). 163 (42%) were positive. 34 (21%) were animals with clinical leukosis (enlarged lymph nodes). 21 cases of clinical leukosis (62%) had antibodies only to the viral glycoprotein (gp) envelope antigen while 13 (38%) possessed antibodies to both the gp antigen and the internal core viral antigen (p24). The titre of antibody to gp antigen was invariably greater than to p24. However, the presence of antibody to p24 viral antigen appeared to be correlated with the clinical (tumorous) manifestation of leukosis.