Acid alpha naphthyl acetate esterase positive lymphocytes in cattle with carcinoma of the mucosa of the ethmoid.

The T lymphocytes (alpha naphthyl acetate esterase positive cells) were estimated in the peripheral blood smears as well as in the separated lymphocytes in tumour bearing and non-tumour bearing control cattle. The results obtained with both techniques were similar and it was suggested that the blood smear staining technique could be routinely used in place of the time consuming and laborious cell separation technique. The T lymphocyte percentage in the peripheral blood of the tumour bearing animals was lower than that of healthy control animals. However, the animals in stages 1 and 2 showed slightly higher values than the stage 3 tumour bearing cattle.