Antibody Responses in Cats Following Primary and Annual Vaccination against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) with an Inactivated Whole-Virus Vaccine (Fel-O-Vax® FIV)

Abstract

Although the antibody response induced by primary vaccination with Fel-O-Vax® FIV (three doses, 2–4 weeks apart) is well described, the antibody response induced by annual vaccination with Fel-O-Vax® FIV (single dose every 12 months after primary vaccination) and how it compares to the primary antibody response has not been studied. Residual blood samples from a primary FIV vaccination study (n = 11), and blood samples from cats given an annual FIV vaccination (n = 10), were utilized. Samples from all 21 cats were tested with a commercially available PCR assay (FIV RealPCRTM), an anti-p24 microsphere immunoassay (MIA), an anti-FIV transmembrane (TM; gp40) peptide ELISA, and a range of commercially available point-of-care (PoC) FIV antibody kits. PCR testing confirmed all 21 cats to be FIV-uninfected for the duration of this study. Results from MIA and ELISA testing showed that both vaccination regimes induced significant antibody responses against p24 and gp40, and both anti-p24 and anti-gp40 antibodies were variably present 12 months after FIV vaccination. The magnitude of the antibody response against both p24 and gp40 was significantly higher in the primary FIV vaccination group than in the annual FIV vaccination group. The differences in prime versus recall post-vaccinal antibody levels correlated with FIV PoC kit performance. Two FIV PoC kits that detect antibodies against gp40, namely Witness® and Anigen Rapid®, showed 100% specificity in cats recently administered an annual FIV vaccination, demonstrating that they can be used to accurately distinguish vaccination and infection in annually vaccinated cats. A third FIV PoC kit, SNAP® Combo, had 0% specificity in annually FIV-vaccinated cats, and should not be used in any cat with a possible history of FIV vaccination. This study outlines the antibody response to inactivated Fel-O-Vax® FIV whole-virus vaccine, and demonstrates how best to diagnose FIV infection in jurisdictions where FIV vaccination is practiced.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in domestic pet cats in Australia and New Zealand: Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and management

“…Both PoC kits are reliable to use in cats that have recently been given an annual FIV vaccination. 70 SNAP Combo™ kits should never be used in any FIV-vaccinated cats, irrespective of how recently a primary or annual FIV vaccination has been administered.…”

“…If FIV testing is required during this period, confirmatory FIV PCR testing is recommended in cats that test positive with Anigen Rapid™ or Witness™. Both PoC kits are reliable to use in cats that have recently been given an annual FIV vaccination 70 . SNAP Combo™ kits should never be used in any FIV‐vaccinated cats, irrespective of how recently a primary or annual FIV vaccination has been administered.…”

Review and Perspectives on the Structure–Function Relationships of the Gag Subunits of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

“…A vaccine (Fel-o-Vax) has been developed for domestic cats but is only efficient against some of the FIV subtypes. It is therefore only used in a small number of countries where theses subtypes represent the majority of the circulating strains [6]. Hence, specific therapeutic strategies against FIV are needed to address this veterinary issue.…”