Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle

Objective. To estimate current US herd-level and animal-level prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in dairy cows and characterize epidemiologic features. Design. Cross-sectional observational study design and survey. Animals. 4120 dairy cows from 103 commercial dairy herds in 11 states across t...

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Main Authors: Rebecca M. LaDronka, Samantha Ainsworth, Melinda J. Wilkins, Bo Norby, Todd M. Byrem, Paul C. Bartlett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Veterinary Medicine International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5831278
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author Rebecca M. LaDronka
Samantha Ainsworth
Melinda J. Wilkins
Bo Norby
Todd M. Byrem
Paul C. Bartlett
author_facet Rebecca M. LaDronka
Samantha Ainsworth
Melinda J. Wilkins
Bo Norby
Todd M. Byrem
Paul C. Bartlett
author_sort Rebecca M. LaDronka
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To estimate current US herd-level and animal-level prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in dairy cows and characterize epidemiologic features. Design. Cross-sectional observational study design and survey. Animals. 4120 dairy cows from 103 commercial dairy herds in 11 states across the US. Procedures. Milk samples were collected from dairy cows through routine commercial sampling and tested for anti-BLV antibodies by antibody capture ELISA. Based on the ELISA results of a sample of an average of 40 cows per herd, within-herd apparent prevalence (AP) was estimated by a directly standardized method and by a lactation-weighted method for each herd. Within-herd AP estimates were summarized to give estimates of US herd-level and animal-level AP. Differences in AP by lactation, region, state, breed, and herd size were examined to characterize basic epidemiologic features of BLV infection. Results. 94.2% of herds had at least one BLV antibody positive cow detected. The average within-herd standardized AP was 46.5%. Lactation-specific AP increased with increasing lactation number, from 29.7% in first lactation cows to 58.9% in 4th and greater lactation cows. Significant differences were not observed based on region, state, breed, or herd size. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance. These results are consistent with a historical trend of increasing prevalence of BLV among US dairy cattle. Given the findings of other studies on the negative impacts of BLV infection on milk production and cow longevity, these findings are clinically relevant for veterinarians counseling dairy clients on the risks of BLV to their herds.
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spelling doaj-art-d7a1d85ee71c4ea3a2cec3cd687bcbf22025-08-20T02:20:59ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine International2090-81132042-00482018-01-01201810.1155/2018/58312785831278Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy CattleRebecca M. LaDronka0Samantha Ainsworth1Melinda J. Wilkins2Bo Norby3Todd M. Byrem4Paul C. Bartlett5Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USADepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USANorth Star Cooperative, 4200 Forest Rd., Lansing, MI 48910, USADepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAObjective. To estimate current US herd-level and animal-level prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in dairy cows and characterize epidemiologic features. Design. Cross-sectional observational study design and survey. Animals. 4120 dairy cows from 103 commercial dairy herds in 11 states across the US. Procedures. Milk samples were collected from dairy cows through routine commercial sampling and tested for anti-BLV antibodies by antibody capture ELISA. Based on the ELISA results of a sample of an average of 40 cows per herd, within-herd apparent prevalence (AP) was estimated by a directly standardized method and by a lactation-weighted method for each herd. Within-herd AP estimates were summarized to give estimates of US herd-level and animal-level AP. Differences in AP by lactation, region, state, breed, and herd size were examined to characterize basic epidemiologic features of BLV infection. Results. 94.2% of herds had at least one BLV antibody positive cow detected. The average within-herd standardized AP was 46.5%. Lactation-specific AP increased with increasing lactation number, from 29.7% in first lactation cows to 58.9% in 4th and greater lactation cows. Significant differences were not observed based on region, state, breed, or herd size. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance. These results are consistent with a historical trend of increasing prevalence of BLV among US dairy cattle. Given the findings of other studies on the negative impacts of BLV infection on milk production and cow longevity, these findings are clinically relevant for veterinarians counseling dairy clients on the risks of BLV to their herds.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5831278
spellingShingle Rebecca M. LaDronka
Samantha Ainsworth
Melinda J. Wilkins
Bo Norby
Todd M. Byrem
Paul C. Bartlett
Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
Veterinary Medicine International
title Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
title_full Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
title_fullStr Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
title_short Prevalence of Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibodies in US Dairy Cattle
title_sort prevalence of bovine leukemia virus antibodies in us dairy cattle
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5831278
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