[Changes in the serum proteins of cattle with leukemia]

Studied was the content of total protein and the protein fraction ratio in the blood serum of 14 normal and 58 leukosis-affected cattle. It was found that in the initial phase of leukosis there were no essential changes in the serum proteins. In animals with a more advanced course of the disease (up to 25000 leukocytes per ml, with 65-85 per cent lymphocytes) no drop of the albumins and rise of the alpha-globulins and gamma-globulins were observed, however, there were cases presenting comparatively high lymphocytosis (up to 23000 lymphocytes) without changes in the serum proteins. In animals with well manifested tumoral changes there were almost invariably a strong drop of the albumins (up to 15-20 per cent) and a rise of the alpha1-globulins (up to 15 per cent), alpha2-globulins (up to 18 per cent), and gamma-globulins (up to 51 per cent).