Bovine leukemia virus: between animal production and human health

Virus de la leucemia bovina: entre la producción animal y la salud humana

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a retrovirus of the deltaretrovirus, infecting B lymphocytes and generating polyclonal expansion. In ruminants, it integrates as a provirus into the host’s genome and generates a lifelong infection throughout life. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), it is a disease of international importance for the animal trade (1). It is known as the significant neoplastic disease of cattle and is one of the five most critical viral agents in livestock production (2, 3).

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