Bovine leukosis. IV. Trypanosomiasis, lymphocytosis and DNA synthesis

The possible influence of natural trypanosome infection on lymphocytosis and DNA synthesizing lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood was determined on 220 cows from two leukosis herds and 25 cows from leukosis free control herd. Trypanosome incidences were determined during summers of 1969 and 1970 by inoculating whole blood onto blood agar slants and incubating at room temperature. Incidence of trypanosomiasis in cattle was found to be variable, possibly due to factors affecting the primary isolation of Trypanosoma theileri. A small trypanosome resembling Trypanosoma uniforme was found occasionally as a concomitant infection with T. theileri. Trypanosomiasis occurred with equal frequency in the animals of the leukosis and the control herds. No correlations were noted between trypanosomiasis, lymphocytosis and DNA synthesizing lymphocytes in peripheral circulation.