Detection of complement-dependent lytic antibodies in sera from bovine leukemia virus-infected animals by the 51Cr-release assay
Portetelle, D.; Bruck, C.; Bex, F.; Burny, A.; Dekegel, D.; Mammerickx, M.
Archives Internationales de Physiologie et de Biochimie 86(4): 955-956
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9799 PMID: 84644 Document Number: 131507
Cytotoxic complement-dependent antibodies were detected in leukotic animals by means of 51Cr-labelling of target BLV-producing cells. Cytotoxic activity parallels the development of the disease; it increases regularly even after the onset of the tumour phase. Antibody levels estimated by p24 or envelope glycoprotein radioimmunoassays showed little variation with time. Increase of cytotoxic activity can thus be considered as predictive of the evolution of the disease towards the tumour phase in sheep experimentally infected by BLV.