Serologic evidence for bovine immunodeficiency virus infection in France

We report herein on the first serologic detection of antibodies to bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) in France. Serum samples from dairy and beef cattle from southwestern and western France (Landes and Vendee) were tested using a western blot assay with a recombinant 53 kDa gag precursor derived from the Louisiana BIV R29 isolate. We performed our study on the oldest animals from 37 different herds that were under serologic follow up for previous bovine leukemia virus infection. Overall, 398 selected bovine sera were assayed and 15 serum samples from 8 herds reacted with the recombinant 53 kDa BIV R29 gag. Interestingly, reactions obtained with French sera were weaker than with positive Louisiana sera, a finding that may indicate the occurrence of distinct French and Louisiana BIV variants.