Cell-mediated response in cattle experimentally infected with bluetongue virus serotype 2

Cell-mediated immunity in cattle infected with bluetongue virus serotype 2 was examined using the 3-(4,5, dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) lymphocyte proliferation assay and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for gamma-interferon quantification in serum. Although infection induced the production of neutralising antibodies, no significant statistical differences were observed between the infected and the control animals when tested with the MTT assay. Constant levels of gamma-interferon were detected in the serum infected animals during the trial but again no significant statistical differences were recorded. The results of the study are discussed.