Circulating immune cells and immune complexes in peripheral blood of healthy and of bovine leukemia virus-infected cows and lymphosarcomatous calves

Abstract

The peripheral blood (lymphocytes and immune complexes (IC)) from 20 healthy cows, 5 healthy calves, 10 bovine leukemia virus-infected cows and 4 lymphosarcomatous calves was investigated using 4 different immunological techniques. A highly significant increase in the percentage of surface immunoglobulin (SIg)-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes of persistent lymphocytosis-cows could be demonstrated while the percentage was decreased in the lymphosarcomatous calves. Percentages of spontaneous sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-rosettes (E-rosettes) were not elevated. Antibodies to bovine leukemia virus-antigen were detected in the sera (immuno-diffusion test) of all the leukotic cows but not of the lymphosarcomatous calves. Although there seems to be an increased level of IC in the advanced stage, as compared to the beginning of the disease, there was no statistically significant difference in comparison with the control individuals. In the lymphosarcomatous calves as well as in the leukemic cows there was no statistical difference in the IC values between diseased animals and controls.