In an attempt to determine the serum protein dynamics in cattle naturally infected with bovine leukemia virus, samples of blood sera from 60 cows of Holstein breed, raised in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were collected.The animals were divided in three Groups: Group 1- was composed of 20 bovine leukemia virus antibody negative cows; Group 2 - was composed of 20 cows reacting to the antigen (gp-51) of the bovine leukemia virus without lymphocytosis and Group 3 - was composed of 20 cows reacting to the antigen (gp-51) of the bovine leukemia virus with lymphocytosis. Serum total protein was determined by the biuret reaction and serum protein fractions (alpha, beta and gammaglobulin) by electrophoresis. Immunoglobulins IgM and IgG were determined by single radial imunodiffusion.There were no signifcant differences in the serum protein profiles and the concentration of serum IgG and IgM between the three groups (bovine leukemia virus antibody negative cows; bovine leukemia virus antibody positive cows without lymphocytosis and bovine leukemia virus antibody positive cows with lymphocytosis).
proteinogram; IgG; IgM; bovine leukosis; serum proteins
