Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infects more than 40% of the United States cattle population and impacts animal health and production. Control programs aiming to reduce disease prevalence and incidence depend on the ability to detect the BLV provirus, anti-BLV antibodies, and differences in blood lymphocyte counts following infection. These disease parameters also can be indicative of long-term disease progression. The objectives of this study were to determine the timing and to describe early fluctuations of BLV-detection by qPCR, ELISA, and lymphocyte counts. Fifteen Holstein steers were experimentally inoculated with 100 μL of a blood saline inoculum. Three steers served as in-pen negative controls and were housed with the experimentally infected steers to observe the potential for contract transmission. Five additional negative controls were housed separately. Steers were followed for 147 days post-inoculation (DPI). Infections were detected in experimentally infected steers by qPCR and ELISA an average of 24- and 36 DPI, respectively. Significant differences in lymphocyte counts between experimentally infected and control steers were observed from 30 to 45 DPI. Furthermore, a wide variation in peak proviral load and establishment was observed between experimentally infected steers. The results of this study can be used to inform control programs focused on the detection and removal of infectious cattle.

牛白血病病毒（BLV）感染美国40％以上的牛群，并影响动物的健康和生产。旨在降低疾病患病率和发病率的控制程序取决于检测BLV前病毒，抗BLV抗体的能力以及感染后淋巴细胞计数的差异。这些疾病参数也可以指示长期疾病进展。这项研究的目的是确定时间并通过qPCR，ELISA和淋巴细胞计数描述BLV检测的早期波动。用100μL血液盐水接种物对15头荷斯坦牛进行了实验接种。将三头ste牛作为围栏阴性对照，并与实验感染的ste牛一起饲养，以观察合约传播的可能性。另外另外放置了五个阴性对照。在接种后（DPI）跟踪牛147天。通过qPCR和ELISA在实验感染的公牛中分别检测到平均24和36 DPI的感染。从30 DPI到45 DPI，实验感染的和对照的ers牛的淋巴细胞计数存在显着差异。此外，在实验感染的公牛之间观察到峰值前病毒载量和建立的广泛差异。这项研究的结果可用于为控制程序提供信息，这些程序的重点是感染牛的检测和清除。从30 DPI到45 DPI，实验感染的和对照的ers牛的淋巴细胞计数存在显着差异。此外，在实验感染的公牛之间观察到峰值前病毒载量和建立的广泛差异。这项研究的结果可用于为控制程序提供信息，这些程序的重点是感染牛的检测和清除。从30 DPI到45 DPI，实验感染的和对照的ers牛的淋巴细胞计数存在显着差异。此外，在实验感染的公牛之间观察到峰值前病毒载量和建立的广泛差异。这项研究的结果可用于为控制程序提供信息，这些程序的重点是感染牛的检测和清除。