No evidence of bovine leukemia virus proviral DNA and antibodies in human specimens from Japan
Meripet Polat Yamanaka,
Susumu Saito,
Yukiko Hara,
Ryosuke Matsuura,
Shin-nosuke Takeshima,
Kazuyoshi Hosomichi,
Yasunobu Matsumoto,
Rika A. Furuta,
Masami Takei,
Yoko Aida
Affiliations
Meripet Polat Yamanaka
Laboratory of Global Infectious Diseases Control Science, Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Susumu Saito
Viral Infectious Diseases Unit, RIKEN
Yukiko Hara
Division of Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine
Ryosuke Matsuura
Laboratory of Global Infectious Diseases Control Science, Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Shin-nosuke Takeshima
Viral Infectious Diseases Unit, RIKEN
Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University
Yasunobu Matsumoto
Laboratory of Global Infectious Diseases Control Science, Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Rika A. Furuta
Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society
Masami Takei
Division of Hematology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine
Yoko Aida
Laboratory of Global Infectious Diseases Control Science, Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Abstract Background The potential risk and association of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) with human remains controversial as it has been reported to be both positive and negative in human breast cancer and blood samples. Therefore, establishing the presence of BLV in comprehensive human clinical samples in different geographical locations is essential. Result In this study, we examined the presence of BLV proviral DNA in human blood and breast cancer tissue specimens from Japan. PCR analysis of BLV provirus in 97 Japanese human blood samples and 23 breast cancer tissues showed negative result for all samples tested using long-fragment PCR and highly-sensitive short-fragment PCR amplification. No IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in any of the 97 human serum samples using BLV gp51 and p24 indirect ELISA test. Western blot analysis also showed negative result for IgG and IgM antibodies in all tested human serum samples. Conclusion Our results indicate that Japanese human specimens including 97 human blood, 23 breast cancer tissues, and 97 serum samples were negative for BLV.
