A Survey for Maternal Antibodies to Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) in Calves Born to Cows Infected with BLV

Abstract

Seventy calves born to the cows infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were examined periodically for the maternal antibodies to BLV. Antibodies to BLV were negative in all of 22 except one calves examined at precolostrum stage, but they converted into positive 24hrs postcolostrum. Most of the 70 calves being positive in the antibodies to BLV at the postcolostrum stage converted into negative within 2 to 6 months of age, and only in five (7.1%) remained positive after 6 months of age.