[Electron microscopic, serological and hematological research on lambs infected with the bovine leukemia virus]

A complex study on experimental oncornavirus infection in sheep was carried out. Fast development of infectious process, production of virus-specific precipitating antibodies, presence of BLV reproduction in cultivated leucocytes were found. Terms of antibody appearance ranged between 20-30 days after infection. Stable antibody carriage remained during the whole observation period (36 months). Moreover, no expressed specific changes were observed in the hemogram of tested animals. Use of electron microscopy in oncornavirus infection allows revealing cells with pathologic changes in organelles and nucleus which are characteristic of the leucosis.