Bovine immunodeficiency virus: incidence of infection in Mississippi dairy cattle.

Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), a lentivirus, was originally derived from a Holstein cow with persistent lymphocytosis and severe wasting. The virus is known to occur sporadically throughout the United States and perhaps across the globe, but epidemiological data concerning the incidence of BIV are meager and the virus was previously unreported in Mississippi animals. This study examined the seroepidemiology of BIV infection from two Mississippi dairy herds (Coastal Plains and MSU). Serology revealed a 38% incidence of BIV infection in Coastal Plains animals and a 58% incidence in MSU animals. A cumulative BIV seroprevalence of 50% was found in the Mississippi animals, and BIV seroprevalence increased with increasing age of the animals. Peripheral blood leukocytes of age matched BIV seropositive and seronegative animals were enumerated to assess any effect of BIV infection on leukocyte populations. No significant differences were found in total leukocyte populations or leukocyte subpopulations between BIV seropositive or seronegative animals. These data indicate that BIV infection is prevalent in Mississippi animals, but the role of BIV in bovine disease remains unclear.