BLV early diagnosis - key to successful farm recovery
The aim of the research is to use the early diagnosis of cattle leukemia virus-infected animals using serological and molecular genetic methods, as well as to determine the significance of PCR in detecting BLV infected calves. The studies were carried out in the leukemia laboratory of the department for monitoring and forecasting of infectious diseases of the Ural Federal Agrarian Research Center, at the department of infectious and invasive pathology of the Belgorod State Agrarian University named after V.Ya. Gorin, as well as in 20 livestock agricultural enterprises of the Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Belgorod regions and the Republic of Bashkortostan. The studies were carried out in the framework of the 160th direction of the FNI Program of State Academies of Sciences for 20132020 on the topic «Development of theoretical foundations for the creation and implementation of a monitoring, diagnostic, treatment and wellness program for the protection of animals from epizootically significant infectious diseases» The system of anti-leukemic health measures using complex serological and hematological testing helps to reduce the number of RID+ animals and hematologically sick individuals for a 6-month period by 32.0% and 6.28%, respectively. The use of the polymerase chain reaction method contributes to the detection of an additional 18 to 39% of calves from 15 days of age, infected with the virus of bovine leukemia, in dysfunctional leukemia livestock enterprises. In a PCR study of cows, 29% to 54% of individuals infected with BLV can be detected. This indicates the need for consistent use of serological studies and the importance of molecular genetic tests for the detection of BLV infected calves.