Studies on leukotic bovine and ovine precipitating serum antibodies and the electrophoretic behaviour of the antigen specific for leukotic cattle

Precipitation reactions between C-type virus specific antigen and leukotic bovine and ovine serums are based on an antigen-antibody reaction. In bovine serums two different precipitating antibodies are involved in this reaction whereas in ovine serums tested only one antibody could be found. Experiments are in progress to identify the antibody class and whether or not IgG₁ and/or IgA are active. By immunoelectrophoresis only a single antigen in various bovine C-type virus specific preparations could be demonstrated. The antigen exhibited a more basic character than either of the precipitating antibodies. Counter-current electrophoretic studies showed that precipitates do not appear before storage in sodium chloride. Therefore this technique seems to be unsuitable for a rapid diagnosis of leukosis, at present.