Alteration in lymphocyte subpopulations in bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle.

Alterations in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were examined in bovine leukosis virus (BLV)-infected cattle using antibodies specific for differentiation antigens in conjunction with analytical flow cytometry. Animals considered to be aleukemic and lymphocytotic were included in the study. Significantly fewer numbers of circulating B-lymphocytes (surface Ig-positive) and T-helper lymphocytes (BoCD4-positive) were identified in BLV-infected aleukemic cattle compared to non-infected controls while no significant differences were established for T-cytotoxic/suppressor lymphocytes (BoCD8-positive).