Development and evaluation of a highly sensitive and specific blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction assay for diagnosis of bovine leukemia virus infection in cattle

Abstract

This ELISA is a highly specific and sensitive assay for the detection of BLV antibodies in serum and milk samples of cattle. Examination of pooled milk samples with the ELISA provides a reliable, practical, and economic procedure for identification of BLV-infected herds. The nested PCR also constitutes a specific procedure for direct diagnosis of infection with BLV.