Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seroepidemiologic studies on the possible relationships of human and bovine leukemia: Brief communication.
- Journal:
- Journal of the National Cancer Institute
- Year:
- 1977
- Authors:
- Donham, K J et al.
Plain-English summary
Researchers looked into whether people who work with cows that have a type of cancer called lymphosarcoma might have been exposed to the bovine leukemia virus (BLV). They tested 846 cows from 21 dairy farms with known cases of lymphosarcoma and found that about one-third of these cows had antibodies against the virus. However, none of the 45 farmers, their family members, or farm workers tested positive for the virus, even though most reported drinking raw milk from their cows. Additionally, tests on veterinarians and other groups of people also showed no signs of the virus. Overall, the study found no evidence that people in contact with these cows had been infected with BLV.
Abstract
A seroepidemiologic study was conducted in an attempt to identify antibodies against the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in people exposed to cattle with lymphosarcoma. Farm families, farm employees, and veterinarians in contact with cow herds having documented cases of lymphosarcoma were tested for precipitating antibodies to the BLV with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The cattle also were tested serologically. Information was collected form the farm families regarding consumption of unpasteurized milk from their dairy herd. Twenty-one dairy herds with documented cases of lymphosarcoma were identified. A total of 846 cows from these herds wre bled, of which 33% were serologically positive. No positive sera were found in the 45 dairy farmers, family members, and farm employees associated with the herds with lymphosarcoma. Consumption of raw milk was reported by 77% of the farm group. In addition, 83 veterinarians, 30 leukemia patients, and 200 control human sera were tested and found negative for antibodies to the BLV.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/197245/