Assessment of The Relationship Between Telomere Length and Physiological Parameters in Cattle Infected with Bovine Leukosis Virus

The study aims to investigate the relationship between relative telomere lengths and various physiological parameters in cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with cow-level bovine leukosis virus infection in dairy cattle in Türkiye. Three variables—age, parity, and body condition score—were used for risk assessment. Antibodies specific to bovine leukosis virus were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and relative telomere lengths were measured by polymerase chain reaction. The highest seropositivity rate (39.13%) was observed in cattle with a body condition score of 3–3.5 and aged between 2–8 years. relative telomere length was found to be positively correlated with seropositivity, advanced age, and parity, while a negative correlation was observed between seropositivity and body condition score. Relative telomere lengths in bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle were significantly shorter (P < 0.05) than those in non-infected cattle. Among body condition score groups, the shortest relative telomere lengths were found in bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle with body condition score ≤ 2.5 and in non-infected cattle with body condition score 3–3.5. Regarding age groups, the shortest relative telomere lengths were observed in bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle older than 8 years (P < 0.05), as well as in non-infected cattle of the same age group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, relative telomere lengths in bovine leukosis virus-infected cattle were found to be significantly shorter than in non-infected cattle (P < 0.05). The shortest relative telomere lengths were recorded in both bovine leukosis virus-infected and non-infected cattle over 8 years of age (P < 0.05). Finally, the association between bovine leukosis virus infection and relative telomere lengths, along with other factors such as age, parity, and body condition score, is considered potentially useful for disease control and prevention programs.