Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume
11, Issue 2, June 2025, Pages 19–23
ISSN 2411-3174 (print version) ISSN 2411-0388
(online version)
SUSCEPTIBILITY
OF RABBITS, AS HETEROLOGOUS ANIMALS, TO BOVINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS
Gorbatenko S. K. 1, Korneikova O. B. 1, Paliy A. P. 1, Korneikov O. M. 1, Rodchenko L. M. 2
1 National
Scientific Center ‘Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary
Medicine’, Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: st.gorbatenko@gmail.com
2 National
Military Medical Clinical Center ‘Main Military Clinical Hospital’,
Kyiv, Ukraine
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PDF (print version)
Citation for print version: Gorbatenko, S. K.,
Korneikova, O. B., Paliy, A. P.,
Korneikov, O. M. and Rodchenko, L. M.
(2025) ‘Susceptibility of
rabbits, as heterologous animals, to Bovine leukemia virus’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and
Biosafety, 11(2), pp. 19–23.
Download
PDF (online version)
Citation for online version: Gorbatenko, S. K.,
Korneikova, O. B., Paliy, A. P.,
Korneikov, O. M. and Rodchenko, L. M.
(2025) ‘Susceptibility of
rabbits, as heterologous animals, to Bovine leukemia virus’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and
Biosafety, 11(2), pp. 19–23. DOI: 10.36016/JVMBBS-2025-11-2-4.
Summary. Given the ability of the
bovine leukemia virus (BLV) to overcome the
interspecies barrier under experimental conditions — leading to the
development of an infectious process in pigs, monkeys, rats, capybaras, and
other animal species — the study of the susceptibility of various
animal species to the pathogen and the determination of their potential role in
the epizootic process is relevant and requires further research.
Therefore, the investigation of the possible use of laboratory animals,
particularly rabbits, for studying the infectious process in leukemia is of
scientific interest and may contribute fundamental knowledge about the ability
of BLV to cross the species barrier. The possibility
of infecting rabbits was studied by subcutaneous
inoculation of stabilized blood, followed by assessment of hematological,
serological, and molecular-genetic indicators in animals from both the
experimental and control groups at distant time points after inoculation. Every
15 days, hematological parameters (ESR,
hemoglobin level, and leukocyte differential count) were
examined in both groups. Seroconversion in the
infected animals was determined using the agar gel immunodiffusion test. At the same time, the presence
of the virus’s genetic material was detected by polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) using a specific primer pair. Analysis of
hematological results from the experimental and control rabbit groups at later
stages after infection revealed that 60 days after inoculation, there was
an increase in leukocyte count due to a rise in band neutrophils and
lymphocytes. Most hematological parameters (hemoglobin, neutrophils, basophils,
ESR) in the experimental group returned to baseline
levels, except for lymphocyte count. Seroconversion
in the experimental group animals was observed
starting from day 60 post-infection, with peak levels recorded between
days 105–120. The presence of the leukemia virus in the animals during
this period was confirmed by molecular-genetic
studies, which correlated with the hematological findings, particularly the
development of lymphocytosis starting on day 60, which is characteristic
of the infectious process typical of BLV infection.
Thus, the study experimentally confirmed the ability of the bovine leukemia
virus to cross the species barrier and induce an infectious process in
heterologous animal species, namely rabbits
Keywords: infectious
process, hematology, lymphocytosis, seroconversion,
molecular-genetic research
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