Leucosis in cattle: profile and pathogenesis of the disease

Enzootopic leucosis (EL) of the cattle is a disease caused by the virus of bovine leucosis of the Retroviridae family. In the majority of animals the infection goes through subclinically, but in some animals older than 3 years stable (persistent) lymphocytosis develops. Their share is about 30 %. And only some of the animal may have swelling in the vinsera. The damage from the disease, taking into account illness and death, is directly related with the infection level among animals. At present mortality from disease is rather low due to the strict control measures applied since 1990-s years. At later stages, animals suffer from broken immune system, opportunistic infections, and as a result milk productivity is going down. There is no proved evidence of the ethyologic role of the virus in human disease. Scientific information given in the article widen knowledge about sufficiency and efficiency of the control measures of the enzootic leucosis. The measures allow develop up-to-date concept of foods safety based on the analysis of risks at this pathology.

enzootic leucosis, virus of the bovine leucosis, infection, diagnostics