Horizontal transmission of feline leukemia virus under experimental conditions
Hoover, E.A.; Olsen, R.G.; Hardy, W.D.; Schaller, J.P.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 58(2): 443-444
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-8874 PMID: 189052 Document Number: 119863
Thirty-seven specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats ranging from newborn to 1 year were inoculated with the Rickard strain of feline leukemia virus (FeLV). Each inoculated cat shared a cage with a control SPF cat for 40 weeks post inoculation. After 4-5 weeks, 20 of the inoculated cats became group-specific antigen (GSA)-positive; the other 17 remained GSA-negative but developed virus neutralizing and feline oncornavirus cell membrane-associated antigen antibody titers. Seventeen of the control cats in contact with the GSA-positive cats developed evidence of FeLV infection 4-18 weeks after viraema was detected in their inoculated cage mates. Of the control cats in contact with inoculated cats that remained GSA-negative, none developed evidence of FeLV infection. Data indicated that the GSA-positive state in cats inoculated with FeLV correlated with the capacity for horizontal transmission of the virus.