DETECTION OF BOVINE LEUKEMIA PROVIRUS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOLLOWED BY NONRADIOACTIVE BLOT HYBRIDIZATION

A multiprobe scheme for detecting provirus of bovine leukemia virus (B LV) in the peripheral blood of infected animals was developed. Accordi ng to the scheme, a fragment of BLV X-gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and detected by blot hybridization with the biotinilat ed oligonucleotide probe complementary to the inner part of the genera ted fragment. 600 copies of provirus may be specifically detected in a sample containing 150,000 cells. In some cases, BLV was detected in b lood samples negative if tested by the commercial double immunodiffusi on test.