Bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus and their mixed infection in Iranian Holstein cattle

Abstract

Introduction: Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) have worldwide distributions, but their prevalences in Iran are unknown. We investigated the presence of infections in Iranian Holstein cattle and determined changes in hematological values for infected animals. Methodology: Nested PCR was used on blood samples from 143 animals Holstein cattle to detect proviral BIV and BLV gag sequences. Flow cytometric analysis was performed using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD4, CD8, and CD21 bovine T lymphocyte subsets. Results: Proviral BIV and BLV gag sequences were detected in 20.3% and 17% of the animals, respectively. BIV-BLV confection was also detected in 4.2% of the study population but this was not statistically significant. Flow cytometric analysis showed that both BIV-infected cows and non-infected ones had CD4/CD8 ratios of 2.45 and 1.43, respectively, and this difference was significant. BLV infected and non-infected animals had no significant differences in their CD4/CD8 ratio. In comparison to non-infected cattle, those with both BIV and BLV had a significant decrease in their CD4/CD8 ratios (1.5 % vs. 2.3; P = 0.01). Conclusion: This is the first report of BIV and BLV infections in Iran. We found no evidence that infection with one agent predisposed an animal to infection with the other. BIV infection may have a role in decreasing T CD8 counts, but this may depend on the genetics of the cattle and virus strains involved.

Prevalence of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Buffaloes in East Azerbaijan, Northwestern Iran

“…Investigation on BIV in Iran revealed 20.3% of positive cattle in Tehran province [20], 60% and 30% of positive cattle and sheep in Chaharmahal Bakhtiary province of Iran [30].…”

“…The DNA extracted from each blood sample was used as a template to detect BIV proviral DNA by PCR as described previously by Nikbakht et al (2010) [20]. The primers chosen are listed in Table 1.…”

Evidence of bovine immunodeficiency virus: A molecular survey in water buffalo populations of Iran

“…Skin lesions unresponsive to therapy and meningoencephalitis are also reported in infected cattle. It is supposed that BIV infection may be related to a decrease in milk yield and weight loss in infected animals and promote secondary infections such as BLV (Meas, Ohashi, et al., 2000; Meas, Seto, et al., 2000; Nikbakht Brujeni et al., 2010).…”

“…BIV has a worldwide distribution, and seropositive dairy and beef cattle have been recorded in many countries, including the United States (Cockerell et al., 1992), Canada (McNab et al., 1994), Iran (Nikbakht Brujeni et al., 2010; Tajbakhsh et al., 2010), Germany (Muluneh, 1994), France (Polack et al., 1996), Switzerland (Gene, 1994), Australia (Forman et al., 1992), the United Kingdom (Clayton, 1994), Japan (Hirai et al., 1996; Meas et al., 1998), Italy (Cavirani et al., 1998), Korea (Cho et al., 1999), Mexico (González‐Fernández et al., 2020), India (Patil et al., 2003) and Brazil (Meas et al., 2002; Rodrigues et al., 2019). However, very few publications can be found in the literature addressing the prevalence of the virus in buffaloes (Albernaz et al., 2015; Bhatia et al., 2006; Meas, Ohashi, et al., 2000; Meas, Seto, et al., 2000).…”

Dynamics of Amino Acid Profile in Milk of Biv- And BLV-Biv-Infected Cows During Storage

“…Вирус бычьего иммунодефицита (bovine immunodeficiency virus, BIV), как и вирус лейкоза, тропен к лимфоцитам и вызывает стойкие нарушения в иммунной системе. ВИ КРС -относительно новое заболевание, однако его распространение в неблагополучных стадах иногда выше, чем ЭЛ КРС (19,20).…”