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Published on: July 11, 2015
Lymphocyte transformation abnormalities in bovine immunodeficiency-like virus infected calves
S J Martin1, T P O'Neill, J A Bilello
1University of Maryland Cancer Center, Baltimore 21201.
Insights
Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) impairs calf immune systems early in infection. Lymphocyte responses to mitogens like PWM, Con A, and PHA were significantly diminished by six months post-inoculation.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Virology
- Immunopathology
Background:
- Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) is a lentivirus affecting cattle, sharing similarities with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).
- Understanding BIV's impact on the bovine immune system is crucial for cattle health and disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of BIV infection on bovine lymphocyte function.
- To assess lymphocyte transformation responses to mitogens at various stages post-infection.
Main Methods:
- Male Holstein calves were inoculated with BIV strain R-29.
- Lymphocyte transformation responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were measured at two, six, and ten months post-infection.
- Responses were compared between infected calves and control animals.
Main Results:
- By six months post-inoculation, BIV-infected calves showed diminished lymphocyte responses to all three tested mitogens compared to controls.
- This impairment in lymphocyte function persisted at ten months post-inoculation.
- Functional lymphocyte impairment was detectable early in BIV infection, before clinical signs appeared.
Conclusions:
- BIV infection causes early functional impairment of lymphocytes in cattle.
- This immune dysfunction occurs prior to the development of overt clinical disease.
- BIV's impact on lymphocyte transformation highlights its potential to compromise the bovine immune system early in the infection course.
Abstract:
Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) is a lentiviral pathogen of cattle which is genetically and antigenically related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). To determine the impact of BIV infection on the bovine immune system we studied the lymphocyte transformation responses of male Holstein calves inoculated with BIV strain R-29 to three mitogens: pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin A (Con A), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at two and six months post-infection. By six months post-inoculation the response to all three mitogens was diminished compared to control animals and remained depressed 10 months post-inoculation. These results demonstrate that a functional impairment of lymphocytes can be observed early in the course of BIV infection, and prior to the onset of overt clinical disease.
