BLV HTLV viruses, abbreviated for Bovine Leukemia Virus and Human T-lymphotropic virus, are two separate types of retroviruses that infect different species, but share certain similarities.
Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is a retrovirus that primarily affects cattle, causing a chronic and often asymptomatic infection. It belongs to the genus Deltaretrovirus and is transmitted from cow to cow through the transfer of infected lymphocytes present in blood, milk, and reproductive fluids. Most infected cattle remain asymptomatic carriers, but a small percentage may develop persistent lymphocytosis (enlarged lymph nodes), lymphoma, or other related diseases. BLV is primarily considered a concern for the cattle industry, as it may lead to economic losses due to reduced milk production and compromised cattle health.
Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is a family of retroviruses known to infect humans and is closely associated with T-cell malignancies and other diseases. HTLV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, breastfeeding, and exposure to contaminated blood products. There are four known types of HTLV: HTLV-1, HTLV-2, HTLV-3, and HTLV-4. Among them, HTLV-1 is the most extensively studied and is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-2 has been linked to a less severe form of T-cell lymphoma, while HTLV-3 and HTLV-4 have limited research available.
Despite BLV primarily targeting cattle and HTLV mainly infecting humans, both viruses belong to the same family,
