Mise en évidence de l'expression du virus leucémogène bovin (BLV) dans les lymphocytes de mouton par une technique d'immunofluorescence utilisant des anticorps monoclonauxDetection of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in sheep lymphocytes by immunofluorescencence test using monoclonal antibodies

An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) test was developed to detect bovine leukemia virus (BLV) antigen expression in infected sheep lymphocytes, using monoclonal antibodies anti BLV-major envelope glycoprotein gp51. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultivated for 48 h in presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) (50 μg/ml), and then fixed with acetone. The cells were assayed for the IF test. All experimentally infected sheep were positive with this test.