Detection of Antibodies to the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Transmembrane Protein p15E: an Alternative Approach for Serological FeLV Detection Based on Antibodies to p15E

Boenzli, Eva; Hadorn, Maik; Hartnack, Sonja; Huder, Jon B.; Hofmann‐Lehmann, Regina; Lutz, Hans

doi:10.1128/jcm.02584-13

Cited by 25 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…It is also possible that cats in Groups 2 and 3 were tested relatively early during outbreaks of FeLV infection at the two facilities, and that with repeated testing at later time points more cats might have demonstrated exposure to FeLV. Moreover, it is possible that a minimal humoral immune response after FeLV exposure could have been detectable in some of these cats using a recently described alternative approach to detect antibodies directed against the FeLV transmembrane antigen p15E [44]. In response to these outbreaks, we recommend that all young cats in Australia in contact with cats of unknown retroviral status should have their FeLV status determined by PoC testing and, if negative, be vaccinated against FeLV to protect them against the development of progressive infection [1,2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diagnosis of Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Infection in Owned and Group-Housed Rescue Cats in Australia

Westman

Norris

Malík

et al. 2019

Viruses

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A field study was undertaken to (i) measure the prevalence of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) exposure and FeLV infection in a cross-section of healthy Australian pet cats; and (ii) investigate the outcomes following natural FeLV exposure in two Australian rescue facilities. Group 1 (n = 440) consisted of healthy client-owned cats with outdoor access, predominantly from eastern Australia. Groups 2 (n = 38) and 3 (n = 51) consisted of a mixture of healthy and sick cats, group-housed in two separate rescue facilities in Sydney, Australia, tested following identification of index cases of FeLV infection in cats sourced from these facilities. Diagnostic testing for FeLV exposure/infection included p27 antigen testing using three different point-of-care FeLV kits and a laboratory-based ELISA, real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing to detect FeLV proviral DNA in leukocytes, real-time reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) testing to detect FeLV RNA in plasma, and neutralising antibody (NAb) testing. Cats were classified as FeLV-uninfected (FeLV-unexposed and presumptively FeLV-abortive infections) or FeLV-infected (presumptively regressive and presumptively progressive infections). In Group 1, 370 FeLV-unexposed cats (370/440, 84%), 47 abortive infections (47/440, 11%), nine regressive infections (9/440, 2%), and two progressive infections (2/440, 0.5%) were identified, and 12 FeLV-uninfected cats (12/440, 3%) were unclassifiable as FeLV-unexposed or abortive infections due to insufficient samples available for NAb testing. In Groups 2 and 3, 31 FeLV-unexposed cats (31/89, 35%), eight abortive infections (8/89, 9%), 22 regressive infections (22/89; 25%), and 19 progressive infections (19/89; 21%) were discovered, and nine FeLV-uninfected cats (9/89; 10%) were unclassifiable due to insufficient samples available for NAb testing. One of the presumptively progressively-infected cats in Group 3 was likely a focal FeLV infection. Two other presumptively progressively-infected cats in Group 3 may have been classified as regressive infections with repeated testing, highlighting the difficulties associated with FeLV diagnosis when sampling cats at a single time point, even with results from a panel of FeLV tests. These results serve as a reminder to Australian veterinarians that the threat of FeLV to the general pet cat population remains high, thus vigilant FeLV testing, separate housing for FeLV-infected cats, and FeLV vaccination of at-risk cats is important, particularly in group-housed cats in shelters and rescue facilities, where outbreaks of FeLV infection can occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diagnosis of Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Infection in Owned and Group-Housed Rescue Cats in Australia

Westman

Norris

Malík

et al. 2019

Viruses

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“…The existing literature regarding the quantitative detection of FeLV virus in various reticuloendothelial tissues is profoundly limited. Most of published works about the molecular detection of FeLV have focused on the presence of FeLV in the peripheral blood [1, 2, 4, 18–20]. In this study, we evaluated the presence of FeLV in the whole blood, bone marrow and spleen, and tried to comparatively quantitate the number of viral RNA by RT-qPCR in these lymphohematogenic tissues of cats with hematological cytopenias.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative measurement of FeLV load in hemolymphatic tissues of cats with hematologic cytopenias

et al. 2019

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BackgroundFeline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a serious viral infection in cats. FeLV is found in some tissues, such as spleen, lymph nodes and epithelial tissues. However, there is controversy about the organ in which the virus can be reliably detected in infected cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of viral infection in hemolymphatic tissues, including blood, bone marrow and spleen by reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).ResultsA total of 31 cats with clinical signs of FeLV infection associated with at least a single lineage hematologic cytopenia were included in this study. Peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen samples were obtained from each cat. Complete blood counts, biochemical tests, and a rapid test to detect FeLV p27 antigen in blood samples of cats were performed. Of 31 cats, 9 had anemia alone, 4 had thrombocytopenia alone, 2 had neutropenia alone, 9 had bicytopenia of anemia and thrombocytopenia, 3 had bicytopenia of anemia and neutropenia, and 4 had pancytopenia. FeLV RNA was then detected by RT-qPCR in the whole blood, bone marrow and spleen. Viral RNA copy numbers were detected in all cats by RT-qPCR whereas 24 out of 31 cats were positive for the serum FeLV antigen. We detected a significantly greater number of viral RNA in the spleen compared with the whole blood and bone marrow.ConclusionSpleen is a site where FeLV is most frequently detected in cats with hematologic cytopenias.

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“…Antibodies to the FeLV whole virus were determined by ELISA [ 19 , 21 ] using 0.2 µg FeLV per well purified by sucrose gradient from cell culture supernatant from FL-74 cells chronically infected with FeLV as previously described [ 41 , 60 ]. Antibodies to the recombinant p15E transmembrane protein (25 μg/well) and the recombinant non-glycosylated form of the gp70 surface glycoprotein (p45; 0.2 μg/well) were measured by ELISA as previously described [ 61 , 62 ]. The results were calculated as the percentages of a defined positive control run with each test; samples reaching >4 % of the positive control were considered to be positive in the p27 ELISA [ 19 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retroviral DNA—the silent winner: blood transfusion containing latent feline leukemia provirus causes infection and disease in naïve recipient cats

et al. 2015

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Background The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a gamma-retrovirus of domestic cats that was discovered half a century ago. Cats that are infected with FeLV may develop a progressive infection resulting in persistent viremia, immunodeficiency, tumors, anemia and death. A significant number of cats mount a protective immune response that suppresses viremia; these cats develop a regressive infection characterized by the absence of viral replication and the presence of low levels of proviral DNA. The biological importance of these latter provirus carriers is largely unknown.ResultsHere, we demonstrate that ten cats that received a transfusion of blood from aviremic provirus carriers developed active FeLV infections, some with a progressive outcome and the development of fatal FeLV-associated disease. The infection outcome, disease spectrum and evolution into FeLV-C in one cat mirrored those of natural infection. Two cats developed persistent antigenemia; six cats were transiently antigenemic. Reactivation of infection occurred in some cats. One recipient developed non-regenerative anemia associated with FeLV-C, and four others developed a T-cell lymphoma, one with secondary lymphoblastic leukemia. Five of the ten recipient cats received provirus-positive aviremic blood, whereas the other five received provirus- and viral RNA-positive but aviremic blood. Notably, the cats that received blood containing only proviral DNA exhibited a later onset but graver outcome of FeLV infection than the cats that were transfused with blood containing proviral DNA and viral RNA. Leukocyte counts and cytokine analyses indicated that the immune system of the latter cats reacted quicker and more efficiently.ConclusionsOur results underline the biological and epidemiological relevance of FeLV provirus carriers and the risk of inadvertent FeLV transmission via blood transfusion and demonstrate the replication capacity of proviral DNA if uncontrolled by the immune system. Our results have implications not only for veterinary medicine, such as the requirement for testing blood donors and blood products for FeLV provirus by sensitive polymerase chain reaction, but are also of general interest by revealing the importance of latent retroviral DNA in infected hosts. When aiming to eliminate a retroviral infection from a population, provirus carriers must be considered.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-015-0231-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Detection of Antibodies to the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Transmembrane Protein p15E: an Alternative Approach for Serological FeLV Detection Based on Antibodies to p15E

Cited by 25 publications

References 26 publications

The Diagnosis of Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Infection in Owned and Group-Housed Rescue Cats in Australia

The Diagnosis of Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Infection in Owned and Group-Housed Rescue Cats in Australia

Comparative measurement of FeLV load in hemolymphatic tissues of cats with hematologic cytopenias

Retroviral DNA—the silent winner: blood transfusion containing latent feline leukemia provirus causes infection and disease in naïve recipient cats

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