DETECTION OF HETEROLOGOUS ANTI BOVINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS ANTIBODIES IN GOATS.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the possibility of the transmission of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to newborn goat kids fed with colostrum obtained from enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) seropositive cows. Thirty-one kids were separated from their dams at birth and they were fed with colostrum obtained from 11 cows serologically tested for EBL. Serum samples were collected from kids at 3, 45, 80, 120 and 160 days of age and, afterwards, at approximately 4 years of age to detect anti-BLV antibodies by agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). The BLV glycoprotein gp51 was used as antigen in the AGID test. It was found that serum antibodies were detected in most of kids fed with colostrum from seropositive cows and they were detected only at the age of 3 days. However, all kids that were fed with colostrum from EBL seronegative cows, were seronegative for all evaluated ages. Results indicated that the detected anti-BLV antibodies were antibodies from colostrum. Even after the decline of passive immunity until adult life, no goat seroconverted. Therefore, colostrum from EBL seropositive cows was not considered an efficient transmission route for BLV to newborn goat kids. KEY WORDS: Bovine leukemia virus. Enzootic bovine leukosis. Heterologous antibodies. Goats.