Definition:
Bovine leukemia virus, simply called BLV, is a bovine virus, which is the counterpart of the human tumor virus HTLV-I. This virus infects buffalo and cattle. While other animals are infected rarely, they are still susceptible to artificial infection. Sheep usually develop leukemia and rabbits acquire a fatal AIDS-like disease.
Treatment:
The infected animals are culled to remove the virus. Countries that have used this method include Europe, Denmark and United Kingdom. North American states and the Eastern part of Europe also used this method in getting rid of the BLV.
Symptoms and Signs:
Bovine leukemia virus causes cattle to develop a benign disease similar to mononucleosis. Symptoms of some animals would sometimes lead to a B-cell leukemia called “enzootic bovine leukosis”.
Causes:
BLV is mainly transmitted by milk to the calf. Other transmissions include blood between animals, such as vaccination, ear tagging and gouge dehoring with needles or instruments that were not disinfected.
