Bovine leukemia virus involvement in enzootic bovine leukosis
Burny, A.; Bex, F.; Chantrenne, H.; Cleuter, Y.; Dekegel, D.; Ghysdael, J.; Kettmann, R.; Leclercq, M.; Leunen, J.; Mammerickx, M.; Portatelle, D.
Advances in Cancer Research 28: 251-311
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0065-230X PMID: 81603 Document Number: 124511
Since 1969, bovine leukaemia virus has been identified, grown in cell culture and characterized biochemically. Neither molecular hybridization nor antigenic cross-reactivity occur with any of the presently known RNA oncogenic viruses. It is an exogenous infective agent: only lymphoid tumour tissue of the infected animal contains proviral DNA sequences that are not detected in non-involved tissues of the same animal. Persistent lymphocytosis is a subclinical form of the disease, with some lymphocytes acting as tumour cells containing proviral DNA sequences. Infected animals actively synthesize antibodies to the virus. The cultured virus can infect cattle, sheep, goats and chimpanzees and induce tumours in cattle, sheep and goats. Only a fraction of infected animals develop tumours; the virus dose, age at infection and genetic make-up of the recipient seem to be important in determining the final issue of the interplay between host and virus. This review concludes that the disease is amenable to complete eradication, on the basis of the exogenous nature of the virus, the slow progression of the disease from herd to herd (provided that the trade in animals from infected herds is prohibited), and the apparent absence of natural reservoirs of the virus.