Molecular investigation of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in cats
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is responsible for feline leukemia syndrome in domestic cats. The prevention and control of disease caused by FeLV are primarily based on vaccination and identification and isolation of infected subjects. Antigen diagnostic methods, which are the most widely used in clinical practices, can be associated to molecular tests to characterize the FeLV detected. The aims of this study were to detect FeLV provirus in whole blood samples of antigen-positive cats from northern Italy and to genetically characterize the identified viruses.
In this study, a quantitative SYBR Green Real-Time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to detect FeLV proviral DNA in blood samples from antigen positive cats referred to a veterinary teaching hospital in Northern Italy in 2018-2021. To genetically characterize the identified viruses, a portion of the viral envelope (env) gene was amplified using six different end-point PCRs and sequenced.
Twenty-two of 26 (84.6%) cats included in the study tested positive by qPCR assay. This suggests a high performance of the qPCR adopted but further studies are required to investigate the cause of discordant results between the antigen test and qPCR in four cats. From env gene analysis, 15/22 qPCR-positive cats were infected by FeLV subtype A and 5/15 shown coinfection with subtype B.
The detection of FeLV proviral DNA in 84.6% antigen-positive cats support the usefulness of qPCR assays in doubtful clinical cases.
“Molecular investigation and genetic characterization of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in cats referred to a veterinary teaching hospital in Northern Italy”. Laura Gallina, et al. Vet Res Commun. 2024 Apr 22. doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10380-6.
Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11259-024-10380-6
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