Rosette forming T-lymphocyte levels in the peripheral blood of cattle affected with squamous cell carcinoma of horn.

The level of thymus-derived lymphocytes was assessed by determining the per cent of cells which formed non-immune rosettes with 2-Aminoethyl isothiouronium bromide treated sheep erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of 20 (14 bullocks and 6 cows) histopathologically confirmed cases of bovine squamous cell carcinoma of horn (horn cancer) and an equal number of age-matched control animals. A significantly marked (P less than 0.01) depression in the per cent erythrocyte-rosette forming cell count was observed in horn cancer affected bullocks and cows as compared to the values in unaffected control animals. The decrease in the level of these cells was comparatively more marked in animals which were clinically in advanced stages of the disease.