Expression of bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) gp51 protein in blood and milk cells of cows with leukosis

Abstract

Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) is the retroviral causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, the most common neoplastic disease of cattle and a serious problem worldwide. Its diagnosis is commonly by tests for antibodies recognising the p24 capsid protein and structural glycoprotein (gp) 51. With flow cytometry recently having come to veterinary immunology, applications for it may now include BLV. The study determined BLV gp51 expression in blood and milk lymphocytes of naturally infected cows by flow cytometry.

Keywords

• bovine leukaemia virus
• gp51 glycoprotein
• lymphocytes
• flow cytometry