DETECTION AND ISOLATION OF BOVINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY-LIKE VIRUS (BIV) IN DAIRY HERDS OF COSTA-RICA

Serological (Western blot) detection of bovine immunodeficiency-like v irus (BIV) in Holstein dairy herds is reported in Costa Rica for the f irst time, as well as the isolation of the virus, from a seropositive bovine, by cocultivation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with embryonic rabbit epithelial (EREp) cells. The isolated strain, BI VCR1, reacted similarly in Western blot as the reference strain BIV R2 9 and is clearly distinguishable from bovine leukaemia virus (BLV). Th e data suggest an association between BIV infections and BLV infection s, as it has been reported elsewhere. From these results it can be con cluded that BIV is present in Costa Rica and it is suggested that thes e viral infections will probably follow the epidemiological parameters of BLV infections in Costa Rica, reaching high infection rates in dai ry herds.