Antibody response of kittens after vaccination followed by exposure to feline leukemia virus-infected cats
Hawks, D.M.; Legendre, A.M.; Rohrbach, B.W.; Sebring, R.; Chavez, L.; Chu, H.J.; Acree, W.M.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 199(10): 1463-1469
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 1666104 Document Number: 386866
Protein (western) blot analysis and virus-neutralization assay were used to evaluate the antibody response of SPF kittens to FeLV vaccination and followed by natural exposure. Several kittens had barely detectable reactions to specific FeLV antigens prior to vaccination or exposure. Correlation was not found between protection against persistent viraemia and antibody response after vaccination as measured by western blot analysis or virus neutralization assay. A significant difference in the antibody response against p27 antigen after natural exposure to FeLV was observed between persistently viraemic kittens and transiently viraemic or aviraemic kittens. Measurable virus neutralizing antibody titre after FeLV exposure was found only in a small number of kittens that were protected against persistent viraemia. Lack of association between humoral response and vaccination-induced protection against persistent FeLV infection suggests an important role for cell-mediated immunity in such protection.