Amyloidosis in association with spontaneous feline immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

Tissues from 34 naturally feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats, 13 asymptomatic cats and 21 cats with signs of feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (F-AIDS), and 35 FIV-seronegative subjects were examined to determine the presence of amyloid deposits. Twenty experimentally FIV-infected cats and five specific pathogen-free (SPF) control cats were also included in the study. Paraffin-embedded sections from kidney and other organs were submitted to histological and histochemical analysis. Amyloid deposits were identified by a modified Congo red stain and confirmed by electron microscopy to demonstrate the presence of amyloid fibrils in amyloid positive glomeruli. In all positive cases, secondary amyloidosis was identified with potassium permanganate pretreatment and amyloid type was further characterised by immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies against human AA and feline AL amyloids. Amyloid deposits were present in different tissues of 12/34 (35%) naturally FIV-infected cats (seven presenting F-AIDS and five in asymptomatic phase) and in 1/30 FIV-seronegative cats. All the experimentally FIV-infected and SPF subjects showed no amyloid deposits. Amyloidosis has been reported in human lentiviral infections, and the data reported here demonstrate the need, in naturally FIV-infected cats, to consider the presence of amyloidosis in differential diagnosis of hepatic and renal disorders to better assess the prognosis of the disease.

Hepatic AA amyloidosis in a cat: cytologic and histologic identification of AA amyloid in macrophages

“…The cause of this cat's amyloidosis is unknown. Young cats and FIV/FeLV‐positive cats may be predisposed; however, although it was a young cat it was FIV antibody and FeLV antigen negative. In this type of amyloidosis, AA amyloid, an amino‐terminal fragment of SAA is often deposited.…”

Amyloïdose féline à expression hépatique chez 2 chats

“…Une étude récente a détecté des dépôts d'amyloïde dans différents organes chez un tiers de chats atteints du virus d'immunodéficience féline (FIV) (12/34 chats). Les analyses histochimiques et immunohistochimiques montraient alors des amyloïdoses secondaires de type AA [3].…”

“…Images d'amyloïdose hépatique (cas n o 2) : la substance amyloïde apparaît rose pâle et d'aspect cotonneux (Figure 7, coloration hématoxyline-phloxine, × 400) ou orangée (Figure 8, coloration rouge Congo, × 400). Photos : laboratoire VetHisto laissant suspecter une association très fréquente entre amyloïdose hépatique et amyloïdose systémique.Des cas de péritonite infectieuse féline associée à une amyloïdose systémique a également été décrit (Hauck et al[5] et Van Der Lindesipman et al[6]) et plus récemment dans l'étude de Beatty et al[4].Enfin, l'étude de Asproni et al souligne l'intérêt de rechercher une amyloïdose lors d'atteinte hépatique et rénale sur des chats FIV positifs[3].…”

Prion and prion-like diseases in animals

“…Contrary, bovine AA-amyloidosis is a relatively rare disease, generally associated with inflammatory disorders such as mastitis or arthritis (Elitok et al, 2008;Seifi et al, 1997). AAamyloidosis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats has also been reported (Asproni et al, 2012).…”