BoLA-DRB3*15:01 allele is associated with susceptibility to early enzootic bovine leukosis onset in Holstein-Friesian and Japanese Black cattle

Screening for Japanese Black cattle herds at risk of bovine leukemia virus transmission based on the presence of persistent lymphocytosis

This study aimed to develop a screening method to identify Japanese Black (JB) cattle farms at high risk of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) transmission. We introduced a recently established lymphocyte count (LC) cut-off to detect cattle with persistent lymphocytosis (PL). To identify high-risk farms, we examined the relationship between the proportion of cattle with PL and the mean blood proviral loads (PVL) per farm. The results showed a strong correlation between the proportion of cattle with high LC, higher than the LC cut-off values for JB cattle, and the mean blood PVL per farm. This indicates that the mean blood PVL on a herd basis of JB cattle can be estimated from the proportion of cattle with high LC. Specifically, the mean blood PVL on farms with >30 % cattle having high LC was estimated to be greater than 100 copies/10 ng DNA. The higher the proportion of cattle with high LC per farm, the higher the proportion of cattle at risk as sources of BLV infection. The study demonstrated that the proportion of cattle with high LC, based on the new LC cut-off, serves as a practical index for screening high-risk farms with PL cattle that have high PVL. This finding is meaningful for prioritizing farms with a high proportion of cattle with high LC, necessitating BLV infection prevention measures, such as voluntary culling and segregation, in order to develop a regional, stepwise BLV eradication strategy.

Infection with bovine leukemia virus belonging to group A or B-1 contributes more strongly to the development of enzootic bovine leukosis in young cattle than the presence of bovine lymphocyte antigen-DRB3 susceptibility alleles

In this study, we compared the effects of different bovine leukemia virus (BLV) strains and bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3 alleles in cattle with enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) aged either <3 years or ≥3 years. The frequency of infection with BLV belonging to group A or B-1 in cattle aged <3 years with EBL was significantly higher than that in cattle aged ≥3 years, regardless of which BoLA-DRB3 allele was present. This suggests that infection with group A or B-1 BLV contributes more strongly to the development of EBL in young cattle than the presence of early-EBL-onset susceptibility BoLA-DRB3 alleles.

The Global Epidemiology of Bovine Leukemia Virus: Current Trends and Future Implications

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a retrovirus that causes enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL), which is the most significant neoplastic disease in cattle. Although EBL has been successfully eradicated in most European countries, infections continue to rise in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the United States. BLV imposes a substantial economic burden on the cattle industry, particularly in dairy farming, as it leads to a decline in animal production performance and increases the risk of disease. Moreover, trade restrictions on diseased animals and products between countries and regions further exacerbate the problem. Recent studies have also identified fragments of BLV nucleic acid in human breast cancer tissues, raising concerns for public health. Due to the absence of an effective vaccine, controlling the disease is challenging. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately detect and diagnose BLV at an early stage to control its spread and minimize economic losses. This review provides a comprehensive examination of BLV, encompassing its genomic structure, epidemiology, modes of transmission, clinical symptoms, detection methods, hazards, and control strategies. The aim is to provide strategic information for future BLV research.

Enzootic bovine leukosis caused by bovine leukemia virus classified as Group C based on viral whole genome sequencing in a 23-month-old Holstein-Friesian heifer

A 23-month-old Holstein-Friesian heifer presented with inactivity and diarrhea. On physical examination, no enlargement of superficial lymph nodes was observed. Hematological examination revealed lymphocytosis. The bovine leukemia virus (BLV) proviral load was 2,122 copies/10 ng DNA, and BLV was classified as Group C based on whole genome phylogenetic analysis. Monoclonal proliferation of B-cells and monoclonal integration of the BLV provirus in the bovine genome were detected by a clonality test of B-cells and inverse PCR, respectively. Although lymph nodes were not swollen at necropsy, histopathological examination revealed neoplastic lymphocyte proliferation in lymph nodes, which were immune positive for CD5 and CD20, and negative for CD3. The heifer was diagnosed with EBL caused by BLV classified as Group C.