SEROPREVALENCIA OF BOVINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS IN ANIMALS WITH REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS IN MONTERIA

Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in animals with reproductive problems. Materials and methods. Blood samples were collected from 137 cows with a history of infertility, belonging to 28 farms distributed in the municipality of Monteria; additionally, samples were obtained at random from 26 bulls from the same farms that were analyzed for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus (BLV). The serological technique used was ELISA. A descriptive analysis was made tabulating the information with seropositive and seronegative data obtained from each animal; results were interpreted according to the variables: race, age, sex, zone, type of exploitation and the event or reproductive problem detected. To determine the association between seropositivity and each of the variables the χ 2 test was used. Results. Analysis showed a seroprevalence of 21% for bovine leukemia virus (BLV). There were not significant differences in prevalence associated with race, age or reproductive state of animals (p?0.05) variables, but there were among the presence of antibodies against BLV and zone, type of exploitation and sex variables. Conclusions. The results obtained demonstrate the circulation of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) in Montería, Córdoba (Colombia) and confirm the importance of implementing a control program and prevention of dissemination of infection, with the purpose of avoiding economic losses associated with BLV infection and, where possible, elimination of seropositive animals to eradicate the infection from this region of Colombia.