Serological and haematological diagnosis of enzootic bovine leukosis in cattle in Turkey.

A serological study of enzootic bovine leukosis in the Bursa Region of Turkey showed that of 459 cattle (282 Holstein, 127 Brown-Swiss and 50 native Boz breed) 42 (9.15 per cent) were seropositive. The seropositive cattle had higher IgG1 (P < 0.001) and lower IgM (P < 0.01) levels than the seronegative cattle. In addition, the seropositive cattle with persistent lymphocytosis had higher IgG1 levels (P < 0.001), total leucocyte counts (P < 0.001) and lymphocyte counts (P < 0.001), than the cattle in the seropositive group without persistent lymphocytosis and the cattle in the seronegative group. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between the IgG1 levels and the lymphocyte counts of the seropositive cattle with persistent lymphocytosis.