Seroprevalence of bovine immunodeficiency-virus (BIV) antibodies in the cattle population in Germany

Transcriptome Analysis of Bovine Macrophages (BoMac) Cells after Infection with Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus

Introduction

Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) is found worldwide in cattle under natural conditions. However, the effect of BIV infection on immune functions has not been fully characterised.

Material and Methods

Transcriptome analysis of BoMac cells after in vitro infection with BIV was performed using BLOPlus bovine microarrays. Genes identified as differentially expressed were subjected to functional analysis with the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software (IPA).

Results

Out of 1,743 genes with altered expression, 1,315 were mapped as unique molecules. In total, 718 genes were identified as upregulated and 597 genes as downregulated. Differentially expressed genes were involved in 16 pathways related to immune response. The most enriched canonical pathway was leukocyte extravasation signalling. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) production was indicated as the most activated pathway and the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4) signalling pathway was the most inhibited one. In addition, the study showed that the inflammatory response was decreased during BIV infection.

Conclusion

This is the first report to describe the microarray analysis of changes in gene expression upon BIV infection of bovine macrophages. Our data indicated how BIV influences the expression of genes and signalling pathways engaged in the immune response.

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

Background

Objective

Methods

Results and conclusions

Bovine immunodeficiency virus: a lentiviral infection

The bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) is a lentivirus which is known to infect cattle worldwide. Though serological and genomic evidence of BIV in cattle has been found throughout the world, isolation of the virus has been reported only from few places. Very little is known about its impact on animal health status, pathogenesis and mode of transmission. BIV is considered generally non-pathogenic and is not known to cause any serious disease in cattle. BIV is genetically and antigenically related to Jembrana disease virus (JDV), the cause of an acute disease in Bali cattle (Bos javanicus) and human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in human. Therefore, it is important to monitor the presence of BIV in cattle to keep vigil over its possible evolution in its natural host to emerge as pathogenic lentivirus like JDV. Differentiation of BIV infection in cattle from the acutely pathogenic JDV is important for diagnosis of the latter. Currently, BIV is considered as a safe model for understanding the complex genome of lentiviruses. Further research on BIV is indeed needed to elucidate its possible role in animal health as well as for insight into the molecular mechanisms adopted by related lentiviruses.

Seroprevalence of bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus in dairy and beef cattle in hokkaido

Serological survey of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection was conducted in dairy cattle from 10 different regions of Hokkaido, Japan. Among 390 cattle, 11.0% of cattle were BIV-seropositive and 3.3% were BLV-seropositive. Moreover, in two dairy farms, where bovine leukosis has been reported, prevalence of BIV infections were 6.4 and 9.1%, respectively. In contrast, among 150 beef cattle, 16.6% were BIV-seropositive while none was BLV-seropositive. Dual infections with BLV and BIV in dairy cattle were tested by using 107 BLV-seropositive sera, and 20 sera were found BIV-positive (18.7%). These results indicate that BIV infection was widespread in Hokkaido.

Evidence for the presence of two bovine lentiviruses in the cattle population of Bali

Antibodies directed against two bovine lentiviruses, Jembrana disease virus (JDV) and bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), were detected in Balinese cattle sera using two new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the combination of capsid (CA) protein and transmembrane (TM) peptides derived from JDV or BIV sequences. Twenty eight of the 77 sera tested on the JDV ELISA showed anti-JDV antibodies with an unequal distribution of seropositive animals throughout the different districts of Bali. Furthermore, when 17 of the JDV positive sera were tested on Western blot, using the same JDV CA antigen, only 13 were judged positive confirming that the ELISA was a more sensitive technique for the detection of seropositive animals. Finally, 9 of the 49 JDV seronegative animals showed anti-BIV antibodies when tested on BIV-specific ELISA. These two ELISAs appeared to be highly sensitive for the detection of anti-JDV and anti-BIV antibodies. Moreover, for the first time, animals showing antibodies against BIV were identified on the main island of Bali and on the JDV-free Nusa Penida island.

Seroprevalence of bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus in draught animals in Cambodia

Since bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), known as bovine lentivirus, has been detected in dairy and beef cattle in various countries around the world, a prevalence study of antibodies to BIV and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was conducted in draught animals in five provinces in Cambodia, where protozoan parasite infections were suspected in some animals. To clarify the status of draught animals including Haryana, Brahman, mixed-breed, local breed cattle and muscle water buffaloes, a total of 544 cattle and 42 buffaloes were tested, and 26.3 and 16.7%, respectively, were found positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies determined by Western blotting. There were 5.3% positive for anti-BLV antibodies detected by immunodiffusion test among the cattle, but no reactors among buffaloes and no dual infection for both BIV and BLV was determined in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BIV-seropositive cattle were found to have BIV-provirus DNA, as detected by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent Southern blot hybridization. This is the first evidence for the presence of BIV and BLV infections in draught animals in tropical countries such as Cambodia. This wide distribution of BIV suggests its association with problems in animal health as reported worldwide, and that a primary BIV infection can predispose death of affected animals by other aggressive pathogens or stresses.

Infection of bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus in water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan

A survey of antibodies to bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) known as bovine lentivirus and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was conducted with samples from water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan. A total of 370 water buffaloes and 76 cattle were tested, and 10.3% and 15.8%, respectively, were found positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies determined by Western blotting, while 0.8% of water buffaloes and no cattle were positive for anti-BLV antibodies determined by immunodiffusion test. BIV-seropositive water buffaloes and cattle were found to have BIV proviral DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells determined by nested polymerase chain reaction. This is the first report of BIV infections in water buffaloes.

Seroprevalence of bovine immunodeficiency virus in dairy and beef cattle herds in Korea

Infection of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), a lentivirus, is thought to sporadically occur throughout the world, but seroepidemiological surveys concerning the incidence of BIV are limited and have not been undertaken in Korea. A total of 266 sera from different twenty dairy (Holstein) and twenty-six Korean native beef (Hanwoo) farms of the south-western part of Korea was analyzed for the presence of anti-BIV antibodies by Western blotting. Thirty five percent and 33% of dairy and beef cattle, respectively, were BIV-seropositive. By nested polymerase chain reaction, it was confirmed that these seropositive cows had provirus in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To demonstrate the correlation with BIV and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, these sera were also analyzed for anti-BLV antibodies by immunodiffusion test, resulting in high prevalence of BLV infection but relatively a few dual infections. We report herein the first serological detection of antibodies to BIV in Korea.

Seroprevalence and field isolation of bovine immunodeficiency virus

A seroprevalence study of bovine lentivirus, known as bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), was conducted in 12 different dairy herds in Hokkaido, where some herds were a high prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection. Amongst 611 cattle, 28.6% of cattle were BLV-seropositive, and 11.7% of cattle were seropositive for BIV, while 4.2% of cattle were seropositive for both BIV and BLV. For the isolation of BIV, 19 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and one sample of milk-derived leukocytes were prepared from BIV-seropositive cows. These PBMC and leukocyte preparations were then co-cultivated with cc81 cells, a cat cell line transformed by mouse sarcoma virus. BIV was isolated from 17 PBMC and one milk-derived leukocyte samples. The isolated viruses showed slow replication and syncytia formation. Major core antigen, p26 from these isolates were reacted with anti-BIV (American isolate R-29) serum. In addition, proviral DNA was detected in blood and milk samples by nested polymerase chain reaction and subsequent Southern blot hybridization. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplified pol gene products showed its 99.0 to 99.7% homology to that of BIV R-29. These results indicate that the Japanese BIV isolates appear to be antigenically and genetically similar to the American R-29. Since BIV was isolated from milk samples, BIV could possibly be transmitted through milk. This is the first report of BIV isolation in Japan.

Natural and experimental bovine immunodeficiency virus infection in cattle

Since 1989, the LSU dairy herd, with its high seroprevalence of BIV, was recognized to have a high incidence of common diseases that reduced the economic viability of the dairy. The herd had a high percentage of cows with encephalitis associated with depression and stupor, alteration of the immune system associated with secondary bacterial infections, and chronic inflammatory lesions of the feet and legs. The occurrence of disease problems was associated with the stresses of parturition and early lactation and/or with unusual environmental stress cofactors.