SUBPOPULATIONS OF LYMPHOCYTES IN CATTLE NATURALLY INFECTED WITH PAPILLOMAVIRUS

Subpopulations of blood lymphocytes (CD2, CD4, CD8, WC1 and IgM-mu cha in) were evaluated in clinically manifested bovine papillomatosis. Sig nificantly lower numbers of CD2 (44.7%), CD4 (22.8%) and a lower ratio of CD4/CD8 (1.5) were found in animals with tumours compared to a gro up of cattle free of papillomas (62.3%, 34%, and 2.3, respectively). O n the other hand, significantly higher numbers of gamma/delta+ T lymph ocytes (9.6%) and of lymphocytes expressing IgM molecules (35%) were o bserved in the group of tumour-bearing cattle than in the papilloma-fr ee group (4.8% and 22.1%, respectively). The animals came from a regio n characterised by elevated concentrations of copper, zinc, arsenic, c admium and lead in the soil and in the organs of animals. It is suppos ed that environmental factors predisposed the animals to the developme nt of papillomas.