The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk
Background and Aim: Enzootic bovine leukemia is highly prevalent in most dairy farms, and strategies to reduce both vertical and horizontal transmission are being investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the rate of in utero infection, transmission of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to calve...
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Veterinary World
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Veterinary World |
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| Online Access: | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/21.pdf |
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| author | Daniel Lazzari Quadros Kalinka Puhl Vitoria Agnoletto Ribeiro Rafael Frandoloso Luiz Carlos Kreutz |
| author_facet | Daniel Lazzari Quadros Kalinka Puhl Vitoria Agnoletto Ribeiro Rafael Frandoloso Luiz Carlos Kreutz |
| author_sort | Daniel Lazzari Quadros |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aim: Enzootic bovine leukemia is highly prevalent in most dairy farms, and strategies to reduce both vertical and horizontal transmission are being investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the rate of in utero infection, transmission of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to calves through colostrum and milk, and the effectiveness of colostrum and milk pasteurization in reducing BLV transmission to calves.
Materials and Methods: This study included four groups of calves from seropositive and seronegative cows. Group 1: Calves from BLV-positive cows (n = 11) were fed pasteurized colostrum and milk; Group 2: Calves from BLV-negative cows (n = 9) were fed pasteurized colostrum and milk; Group 3: calves from BLV-positive cows (n = 16) were fed unpasteurized colostrum and milk; and Group 4: calves from BLV-negative cows (n = 9) were fed unpasteurized colostrum and milk. In utero infection was evaluated using blood samples collected from calves before colostrum ingestion (day 0), and BLV transmission through colostrum and/or milk was evaluated by collecting blood samples after colostrum ingestion (days 1, 7, and 30). Samples seropositive on days 0 and/or 30 were also analyzed for the presence of viral DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR).
Results: All calves born to BLV seronegative cows (Groups 2 and 4) tested negative on days 0 and 30, indicating a lack of virus transmission via tank milk. Among the calves from Group 1, we found one in utero infection, and among the nine calves serologically positive on day 30, we found four positives by nPCR. Within Group 3, we found one in utero infection, and among the 10 calves serologically positive on day 30, we found 7 also positive by nPCR.
Conclusion: The transmission of BLV through colostrum is central to the persistence of this virus in dairy cattle. Molecular detection of BLV in seropositive calves during the 1st month of life, followed by culling, may be a valuable eradication strategy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d665ef3325f41c99ff500bd129e3048 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0972-8988 2231-0916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Veterinary World |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4d665ef3325f41c99ff500bd129e30482025-08-20T02:58:21ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162024-12-0117122918292410.14202/vetworld.2024.2918-2924The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milkDaniel Lazzari Quadros0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9631-3141Kalinka Puhl1https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4954-3360Vitoria Agnoletto Ribeiro2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1032-727XRafael Frandoloso3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3361-2420Luiz Carlos Kreutz4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7685-7401Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, Laboratory of Advanced Microbiology and Immunology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business. University of Passo Fundo, 99052-900 Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil; School of Veterinary Medicine. Atitus Education. 99070-220 Passo Fundo, Brazil.School of Veterinary Medicine. Atitus Education. 99070-220 Passo Fundo, Brazil.Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, Laboratory of Advanced Microbiology and Immunology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business. University of Passo Fundo, 99052-900 Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, Laboratory of Advanced Microbiology and Immunology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business. University of Passo Fundo, 99052-900 Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, Laboratory of Advanced Microbiology and Immunology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business. University of Passo Fundo, 99052-900 Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.Background and Aim: Enzootic bovine leukemia is highly prevalent in most dairy farms, and strategies to reduce both vertical and horizontal transmission are being investigated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the rate of in utero infection, transmission of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to calves through colostrum and milk, and the effectiveness of colostrum and milk pasteurization in reducing BLV transmission to calves. Materials and Methods: This study included four groups of calves from seropositive and seronegative cows. Group 1: Calves from BLV-positive cows (n = 11) were fed pasteurized colostrum and milk; Group 2: Calves from BLV-negative cows (n = 9) were fed pasteurized colostrum and milk; Group 3: calves from BLV-positive cows (n = 16) were fed unpasteurized colostrum and milk; and Group 4: calves from BLV-negative cows (n = 9) were fed unpasteurized colostrum and milk. In utero infection was evaluated using blood samples collected from calves before colostrum ingestion (day 0), and BLV transmission through colostrum and/or milk was evaluated by collecting blood samples after colostrum ingestion (days 1, 7, and 30). Samples seropositive on days 0 and/or 30 were also analyzed for the presence of viral DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). Results: All calves born to BLV seronegative cows (Groups 2 and 4) tested negative on days 0 and 30, indicating a lack of virus transmission via tank milk. Among the calves from Group 1, we found one in utero infection, and among the nine calves serologically positive on day 30, we found four positives by nPCR. Within Group 3, we found one in utero infection, and among the 10 calves serologically positive on day 30, we found 7 also positive by nPCR. Conclusion: The transmission of BLV through colostrum is central to the persistence of this virus in dairy cattle. Molecular detection of BLV in seropositive calves during the 1st month of life, followed by culling, may be a valuable eradication strategy.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/21.pdfdiagnosisepidemiologyretrovirusvertical transmission |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Lazzari Quadros Kalinka Puhl Vitoria Agnoletto Ribeiro Rafael Frandoloso Luiz Carlos Kreutz The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk Veterinary World diagnosis epidemiology retrovirus vertical transmission |
| title | The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| title_full | The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| title_fullStr | The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| title_full_unstemmed | The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| title_short | The transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| title_sort | transmission of bovine leukemia virus to calves occurs mostly through colostrum and milk |
| topic | diagnosis epidemiology retrovirus vertical transmission |
| url | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.17/December-2024/21.pdf |
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