Bovine leukemia virus DNA in human breast tissue

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a deltaretrovirus, causes B-cell leukemia/lymphoma in cattle and is prevalent in herds globally. A previous finding of antibodies against BLV in humans led us to examine the possibility of human infection with BLV. We focused on breast tissue because, in cattle, BLV DNA...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2014-05, Vol.20 (5), p.772-782
Main Authors: Buehring, Gertrude Case, Shen, Hua Min, Jensen, Hanne M, Choi, K Yeon, Sun, Dejun, Nuovo, Gerard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
bovid
bovine
bovine leukemia virus
Breast
breast tissue
Cattle
DNA
DNA, Viral
Female
Genes, Viral
Genetic aspects
Genome, Viral
human
Humans
Leukemia
Leukemia Virus, Bovine - genetics
Mammary Glands, Human - virology
Molecular Sequence Data
Physiological aspects
Proviruses
Sequence Alignment
Tissues
Viral Core Proteins - genetics
Viral Core Proteins - metabolism
viruses
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Summary:Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a deltaretrovirus, causes B-cell leukemia/lymphoma in cattle and is prevalent in herds globally. A previous finding of antibodies against BLV in humans led us to examine the possibility of human infection with BLV. We focused on breast tissue because, in cattle, BLV DNA and protein have been found to be more abundant in mammary epithelium than in lymphocytes. In human breast tissue specimens, we identified BLV DNA by using nested liquid-phase PCR and DNA sequencing. Variations from the bovine reference sequence were infrequent and limited to base substitutions. In situ PCR and immunohistochemical testing localized BLV to the secretory epithelium of the breast. Our finding of BLV in human tissues indicates a risk for the acquisition and proliferation of this virus in humans. Further research is needed to determine whether BLV may play a direct role in human disease.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid2005.131298