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. 2017 Nov;145(15):3125-3130.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268817002229. Epub 2017 Sep 28.

Bovine leukaemia virus DNA in fresh milk and raw beef for human consumption

N N Olaya-Galán  1 , A P Corredor-Figueroa  2 , T C Guzmán-Garzón  2 , K S Ríos-Hernandez  2 , S P Salas-Cárdenas  2 , M A Patarroyo  3 , M F Gutierrez  2
Affiliations

Bovine leukaemia virus DNA in fresh milk and raw beef for human consumption

N N Olaya-Galán et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leucosis, which has been reported worldwide. BLV has been found recently in human tissue and it could have a significant impact on human health. A possible hypothesis regarding viral entry to humans is through the consumption of infected foodstuffs. This study was aimed at detecting the presence of BLV DNA in raw beef and fresh milk for human consumption. Nested PCR directed at the BLV gag gene (272 bp) was used as a diagnostic test. PCR products were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Forty-nine per cent of the samples proved positive for the presence of proviral DNA. This is the first study highlighting the presence of the BLV gag gene in meat products for human consumption and confirms the presence of the viral DNA in raw milk, as in previous reports. The presence of viral DNA in food products could suggest that viral particles may also be found. Further studies are needed to confirm the presence of infected viral particles, even though the present findings could represent a first approach to BLV transmission to humans through foodstuff consumption.

Keywords: Bovine leukaemia virus; foodborne infection; fresh milk; raw meat; zoonosis.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Representative agarose gel (1·5%) of field samples. (a) Multiplex PCR. (b) Nested PCR. Lane 1 – 100 bp ladder (Invitrogen); lane 2 – positive control; lane 3 – negative control; lane 4–8: beef samples; lane 9–13: milk samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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