Clinical and haematological findings in bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) infected cattle

Abstract

The clinical and haematological findings in dairy cattle with naturally infected bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) infection were evaluated. Thirty-seven (12.3%) out of 300 cattle that had previously been found positive for BIV infection were monitored. Thirty-seven BIV-free cattle selected from BIV-positive herds were used as a control group. Routine clinical and haematological parameters were recorded 6 times, at 1-month intervals.

Mastitis (n = 18), metritis (n = 9), respiratory system diseases (n = 8), retained placenta (n = 7), and regional lymphadenopathy (n = 7) were predominantly diagnosed during the monitoring period in BIV-infected cattle, and mastitis (n = 1) and metabolic disturbance (n = 1) in the control animals. Heart and respiratory rates were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in BIV-infected cattle than in the control group. White blood cell (WBC) count and lymphocyte rate were lower (P < 0.01) in BIV-infected cattle, but the neutrophil rate was higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. There were no significant differences in erythrocyte or platelet indices within or between the groups during the study.

These findings suggest that the presence of BIV infection should be considered a health risk to cattle populations, and may have a role in changing WBC and differential cell counts in the host.