Background
Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is a delta retrovirus that naturally infects the B lymphocytes of cattle, reverse transcribing and integrating its genome into the host DNA. This leads to tumorigenic proliferation of the cells and lifelong infection. BLV can be transmitted through blood, uterus, and milk, with specific transmission routes potentially including contact, breeding, and shared farm tools such as hoof knives. BLV can be detected in bovine-derived foods such as milk. It causes enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), the most important and common tumor disease in cattle. BLV impairs the immune system, shortens lifespan, and significantly reduces milk production, but often goes unnoticed in farming due to the absence of obvious clinical symptoms. Because there are no effective vaccines or treatments, control measures typically rely on optimizing hygiene protocols, isolation, and culling infected cattle, leading to significant economic losses in the livestock industry. In recent years, several potential drugs, including histone deacetylase inhibitors and valproic acid, have been tested, and several vaccines targeting BLV have been developed, but no strategy has proven sufficiently effective and feasible. Further research on developing new vaccines is ongoing.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the BLV genome ( Source: Plant E, et al., 2023)
In 2014, BLV nucleic acid fragments were detected in human breast cancer patients, raising public concern about the zoonotic potential of BLV. Breast cancer is a complex illness with multiple types that is the second largest cause of cancer death in women. Its pathophysiology remains unknown. While cattle are the principal host, BLV can also infect buffalo and capybara, as well as rabbits, rats, pigs, sheep, and alpacas in the laboratory. The particular mechanism of BLV infection in humans is still unknown. However, raw milk has been shown to transmit the virus from animals to people. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that BLV DNA is present in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer at a significantly higher incidence than in control groups. More research is needed to determine the zoonotic hazard of BLV.
gp51 is the main glycoprotein on the BLV envelope, capable of binding to receptors on the surface of host cells, facilitating the contact and fusion of BLV particles with host cells, and mediating viral invasion. gp51 has antigenic properties and can induce the host to produce specific antibodies. Detection of these corresponding antibodies through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), PCR variants, and immunoassays is currently an important method for diagnosing BLV infection.
Alternative Names
Anti-Bovine Leukemia Virus gp51-G monoclonal antibody
Anti-BLV gp51 monoclonal antibody
Anti-BLV gp51-G mAb
Anti-gp51-G monoclonal antibody (for BLV)
Bovine Leukemia Virus gp51-G monoclonal antibody
BLV gp51-G monoclonal antibody
Monoclonal antibody against BLV gp51-G
Anti-gp51-G antibody for BLV
References
- 1. Plant E, et al., A complex network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators involved in bovine leukemia virus transcriptional regulation. Retrovirology. 2023; 20:11
References
Invited review: Bovine leukemia virus—Transmission, control, and eradication
Journal of Dairy Science
Authors: Kuczewski, A.; Orsel, K; Barkema, H.W. ; Mason, S.; Erskine, R.; van der Meer, F.
Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, endemic in North American dairy herds, has production-limiting effects. A literature review of available papers published since 1995 concerning BLV transmission and its control was conducted. Although confirmed transmission routes were reviewed (blood, natural breeding, in utero, colostrum, and milk), there is still a lack of detailed information on other specific risks for transmission (e.g., contact transmission and hoof-trimming knives). Eradication of BLV has been achieved by combined management, segregation, and culling approaches. In contrast, although sole implementation of best management practices aimed at prevention of BLV transmission has decreased within-herd BLV prevalence, it has not eradicated BLV from a herd. Therefore, control and eradication of BLV by best management practices only should be further investigated. Additionally, the role of proviral load in infected cattle was investigated. Cattle with a high proviral load seem to be more likely to infect others, whereas those with a very low proviral load seem to have low risks of transmitting BLV. Information on proviral load could be taken into account when controlling BLV in high-prevalence herds. In conclusion, there is a need for detailed, large-scale studies investigating roles of specific transmission routes, knowing proviral load of infected individuals.
Genetic Variability of Bovine Leukemia Virus: Evidence of Dual Infection, Recombination and Quasi-Species
Pathogens
Authors: Pluta, A.; Rola-Łuszczak, M.; Hoffmann, F.G.; Donnik, I.; Petropavlovskiy, M.; Kuźmak, J.
Abstract
We have characterized the intrahost genetic variation in the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) by examining 16 BLV isolates originating from the Western Siberia–Tyumen and South Ural–Chelyabinsk regions of Russia. Our research focused on determining the genetic composition of an 804 bp fragment of the BLV env gene, encoding for the entire gp51 protein. The results provide the first indication of the quasi-species genetic nature of BLV infection and its relevance for genome-level variation. Furthermore, this is the first phylogenetic evidence for the existence of a dual infection with BLV strains belonging to different genotypes within the same host: G4 and G7. We identified eight cases of recombination between these two BLV genotypes. The detection of quasi-species with cases of dual infection and recombination indicated a higher potential of BLV for genetic variability at the intra-host level than was previously considered.
COA
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