API Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV) Testing

Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV) is caused by the bovine leukemia virus. This immunosuppressive disease is found mainly in the white blood cells, and causes inflammation and dysfunction in lymph nodes throughout the body. 88.5% of dairy herds and 38.7% of beef herds are infected with the virus.

Once an animal is infected, they are lifetime carriers and shedders. The virus is spread through animal-to-animal contact via blood, milk/colostrum and in-utero from dam to offspring.

The Clinical signs of BLV include weight loss, decreased milk production and downer cows. However, in older adult animals, these symptoms are only apparent in the very late stages of the disease. There is no treatment or cure for BLV, and thus infected animals get progressively worse and eventually are culled or die.

The effects of BLV on your operation include:

• The value of cull cows decreases, as Leukosis tumors are the number one cause of condemnation at slaughter
• Cow longevity is reduced
• Milk production decreases as BLV herd prevalence increases
• Inability to sell breeding stock internationally, as many countries that have chosen to eradicate the disease have placed import restrictions on U.S. cattle that do not test BLV free

Animal Profiling International, Inc. uses an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for the detection of antibody to BLV. It is very accurate on either milk or serum. Test negative cows are BLV free.