Phylogenetic characterisation of feline immunodeficiency virus in naturally infected cats in Croatia indicates additional heterogeneity of subtype B in Europe

Abstract

This study was performed on 29 domestic cats with a variety of clinical signs, possibly related to FIV infection. Blood samples were tested by a rapid immunochromatographic (ICA) procedure for detection of FIV antibodies. Subsequently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify a portion of the proviral gag gene. All 11 positive PCR products were sequenced and compared with previously reported FIV sequences. Croatian proviral isolates that could be amplified were clustered within subtype B, and additional heterogeneity was confirmed by the formation of three separate clusters. Phylogenetic analysis of circulating strains in Croatia and in southeast Europe is necessary to improve diagnostic methods and selection of the appropriate vaccinal strains.

Prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus in domestic cats in Hungary

“…7 Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a member of the Lentivirus genus within the Retroviridae family and it infects species of the families Felidae and Hyaenidae. 8 It causes an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in cats, resembling AIDS caused by HIV in humans. Transmission is usually by direct inoculation (eg, bite and scratch wounds).…”

Decreased Sensitivity of the Serological Detection of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Potentially Due to Imported Genetic Variants

“…Moreover, based on personal communication with a cat owner, we knew that at least one of the cats in Switzerland with a discordant FIV test result was originally imported from Greece. Based on earlier studies, FIV subtype A is the predominant subtype in Switzerland and Germany, while in southern Europe and Turkey, FIV subtype B is more common [16,20,24,29,32,34,35,36,37]. We were unable to further analyze the prevailing FIV subtypes in the cats with discordant results, since only a few were found to be positive using various RT-PCR assays.…”

“…FIV clade A strains are found worldwide [16,25,26,27,28]; the other clades show varying geographic prevalence, and the separate evolution of these clades in geographical distinct areas [14,29] and introduction into other areas has been proposed [15,26,30,31,32,33]. The most prevalent FIV clades found in Europe are A and B, with clade A being predominant in Northern Europe (Germany, Benelux, and the UK) [16,32,34,35,36] and clade B occurring more frequently in Southern Europe (Portugal, Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Turkey) [16,20,24,29,34,37]. In North America, FIV clades A, B, and C have been described [15,16,31,33].…”

First Molecular Characterization of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in Domestic Cats from Mainland China

“…In our study, all the FIV positive isolates we detected belonged to subtype A which occurs widely around the world with most isolates being from Australia, New Zealand, North America, South Africa and Europe [10, 34]. Isolates from countries closer to mainland China have included subtypes A, B, C and D from Japan [14], subtype C from Korea and Vietnam [13, 35], and subtype D from Thailand [36].…”

“…The distribution of the clades varies with subtypes A and B being most common, and occurring very widely [8, 10]. Subtype A is common in Australia, New Zealand, the western part of the United States, South Africa and northwestern Europe [8].…”