Protection of sheep against infection with bovine leukemia virus by vaccination with tumor cells or tumor cell preparations from lymph nodes of leukemic cattle
Ristau, E.; Beier, D.; Wittmann, W.; Klima, F.
Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 41(2): 185-196
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9055 PMID: 3038049 Document Number: 298773
34 sheep aged 2-8 months received 5 intramuscular injections, 2 weeks apart, of a plasma membrane preparation from neoplastic lymph nodes (method described by the authors in 1982), or cell extract prepared by the method of Onuma & Olson (1977). When infective whole blood or lymphocytes were inoculated i/p 3-4 weeks after the final injection, 17 of 19 vaccinated sheep resisted this challenge infection. At 11 or 18 months after vaccination all sheep resisted challenge infection. The protective effect was due to an immune reaction against the surface antigen of infected lymphocytes, rather than against bovine leukosis virus itself.