Immunologic studies in Holstein-Friesian cattle: an immunocompetence profile.

An immunocompetence profile has been developed for Holstein-Friesian cattle. In vitro and in vivo immunoassays were used to determine (1) the percentage of peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subpopulations bearing surface-membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes, complement, or surface immunoglobulin; (2) the PBL blastogenic response to leukoagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen, (3) the serum immunoglobulin concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA, (4) the humoral antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and (5) the in vitro blastogenic response and in vivo delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to purified protein derivative in cattle immunized with BCG.