Immunological parameters of cattle infected with leukemia virus of different genotypes

А. P. Poryvaeva¹ , I. M. Donnik¹ , A. G. Isaeva¹, M. V. Petropavlovskiy¹ , A. S. Krivonogova² , O. Yu. Chernykh³

¹ Ural Federal Agrarian Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia

2 Ural State Agrarian University, Ekaterinburg, Russia 3 Kuban State Agrarian University named after I. T. Trubilin, Krasnodar, Russia

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Volume 26 No. 6

Date of paper submission: 25.03.2026, date of review: 05.05.2026, date of acceptance: 15.05.2026. 

Published: 06/30/2026

Abstract. Bovine leukemia remains a major problem in animal husbandry. Currently, one type of leukemia virus is being replaced by another, making the study of blood clinical parameters in animals especially relevant. The purpose of our study was to investigate the characteristics of immunological parameters in cattle infected with different genotypes of the leukemia virus. Methods. To assess changes, immunohematological and molecular genetic studies were conducted; to evaluate the condition of animals, integrated leukocyte indices were used. Scientific novelty. For the first time, detailed clinical and immunological parameters of animals infected with different genotypes of the leukemia virus are described. Results. As a result of a comprehensive study, new data were obtained on the influence of the genetic variability of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) on the clinical and immunological status of infected animals in various regions of the Russian Federation. In the surveyed farms of the Tyumen and Sverdlovsk Oblasts, circulation of two BLV genotypes was identified: genotype 4 (Belgian) and genotype 7 (Australian). At comparable stages of the disease (initial and aleukemic), no significant differences in key hematological parameters were established between animals infected with different BLV genotypes, which indicates a commonality of pathogenetic mechanisms triggered by the virus regardless of its genotypic affiliation at these stages. However, it was established that infection with genotype 4 is associated with a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations and a higher proportion of animals with developed stages of the pathology (aleukemic – 46.4 %, subleukemic – 14.5 %). Whereas in animals infected with genotype 7, the disease proceeded at the initial stage in 50 % of cases, and at the aleukemic stage in 50 %, which may indicate potential differences in virulence or the dynamics of the infectious process development. The key finding of the research is the demonstration that the degree of immunological imbalance correlates more clearly with the stage of the leukemic process than with the specific virus genotype.

Keywords: bovine leukemia virus, virus genotypes, clinical examination, immunohaemato-logical analysis, integral leukocyte indices, molecular genetic testing

Acknowledgements. The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 23-16- 00103, https://rscf.ru/project/23-16-00103/

For citation: Poryvaeva А. P., Donnik I. M., Isaeva A. G., Petropavlovskiy M. V., Krivonogova A. S., Chernykh O. Yu. Immunological parameters of cattle infected with leukemia virus of different genotypes. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (06): 1069‒1086. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-06-1069-1086. (In Russ.) 

 

 

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