Infection with feline leukemia virus: immunology and serodiagnosis as the basis for control. 1
Lutz, H.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 126(1): 1-22
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 6324337 Document Number: 233369
FeLV-associated diseases, and the immunology and pathogenesis of FeLV infection, are reviewed. The production of monoclonal antibodies and their use in an ELISA test are described. With this test, and the normal ELISA and immunofluorescence tests, four patterns of infection were distinguished in cats: persistent viraemia, transient viraemia, no detectable viraemia, and persistent antigenaemia (immune carriers). The antigenic components of the viral envelope and core proteins are described, and also the role of feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA), which protects cats against tumour development in response to FeSV. Though FOCMA has been considered as a non-virion, tumour cell-specific antigen, antibodies to envelope components of the infrequently isolated subtype C of FeLV show anti-FOCMA activity. Available FeLV vaccines are discussed. The monoclonal ELISA test was applied to 2200 human serum samples. A weak but recognizable reaction was found in eight samples, justifying further studies.