Prevalence of serie bovine leukosis virus antibodies in dairy cattle (Holstein) and beef cattle (Zebu/nelore) in Londrina, State of Paraná

Abstract

Bovine leukosis virus (BLV) antibodies were screened by Ouchterlony's agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test (antigen gp-51) in dairy cattle (Holstein) and beef cattle (Zebu/Nelore) breed, raised in Londrina State, of Paraná/Brasil. The prevalence of antibodies anti-BLV was of 7,0% (69/985) and infected animals were found in 35,7% (5/14) of the farms. In all dairy cattle surveyed, the prevalence rate was of 18,4% (69/374), however, BLV antibodies were not detected in any beef cattle. The more intensive the management, the higher the prevalence rate of BLV was in the herds of dairy cattle (27,4% intensive; 8,5% semi-extensive management). There was a tendency to increase the prevalence rate of BLV reaching its highest rate of BLV as older the dairy cattle were reaching the highest prevalence rate in cows older than 60 months. The values obtained were the following: up to 6 months-8,7% (6/69); 6 to 12 months - 8,3% (5/60); 12 to 24 months -18,6% (13/70); 24 to 60 months - 16,1% (15/ 93) and older than 60 months - 36,6% (30/82).