Methodological approaches to improving the cattle leukosis situation at dysfunctional farms in the Belgorod region

A. M. Kovalenko¹, I. M. Donnik², S. N. Belyaeva^1
1Belgorod State Agrarian University named after V. Ya. Gorin, ul. Vavilova, 1, pos. Maiskii, Belgorodskii r-n, Belgorodskaya obl., 308503, Russian Federation
²Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii prosp., 14, Moskva, 119991, Russian Federation

Abstract. Viral infectious diseases of animals remain one of the main objects of the system of antiepizootic measures taken in animal husbandry. At the same time, enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is one of the most pressing diseases in most countries of the world. The purpose of the study was to develop methodological approaches to improve the cattle leukosis situation at farms in the Belgorod region using serological and molecular genetic methods. The proposed methodological approaches consisted in increasing the frequency of serological studies conducted in dysfunctional farms in terms of leukosis in cattle aged from 2 to 6 months, as well as in increasing the sensitivity of the immunodiffusion reaction (IDR) by high-speed centrifugation and increasing the temperature of the test samples to a level close to the physiological parameters of the animal. Increasing the IDR sensitivity made it possible to detect, on average, 20.25% more animals infected with the leukosis virus, compared with the standard immunodiffusion reaction. Additional molecular genetic tests for the detection from proviral DNA of the leukosis virus made it possible to early detection of the development of the leukosis process in calves aged 15 days, which also reduces the recovery time of the livestock. In 2021 the above methodological approaches made it possible to completely eradicate leukosis among the whole livestock in Pobeda farm in the Shebekinsky district of the Belgorod region.

Keywords: enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL); enzootic leukemia; laboratory diagnostics; immunodiffusion reaction (IDR); polymerase chain reaction (PCR); sanitation in dysfunctional farms.

Author Details: A. M. Kovalenko, D. Sc. (Vet.), prof. (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); I. M. Donnik, D. Sc. (Vet.), vice-president; S. N. Belyaeva, Cand. Sc. (Boil.), senior lecturer.

For citation: Kovalenko AM, Donnik IM, Belyaeva SN. [Methodological approaches to improving the cattle leukosis situation at dysfunctional farms in the Belgorod region] Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2021;35(8):40-5. Russian. doi: 10.53859/02352451_2021_35_8_40.