Seroprevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in cattle from the North West of Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of present study was to know seroepidemiology of BLV infection in four breeds of cattle in north-west of Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from four breeds (n=600) and subjected to indirect ELISA to investigate the breed-wise, area-wise and sex-wise seroprevalence of BLV. Overall, 20% cattle were seropositive for BLV out of total 600 cattle. There were significant differences in different breeds and areas under study. Highest prevalence was noted in Holstein Friesian (42%) in tehsil Tangi (38%), followed by Jersey (28%) and crossbred cattle (11%) in Shabqadar (16.5%) and Charsadda tehsils (6%). Highest seroprevalence (P<0.05) was also noted in males and females of Friesian breed. This study suggests that BLV is prevailing in the area and that the virus might be imported in exotic breeds or semen and locally disseminated. Additionally, exotic breeds and crossbred cattle are more prone to BLV as compared to local breed.