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Arbovirus Infections As Screening Tools for the Identification of Viral Immunomodulators and Host Antiviral Factors
Published on: September 13, 2018
Is feline foamy virus really apathogenic?
A C German1, D A Harbour, C R Helps
1School of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom. Allison.German@liverpool.ac.uk
Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
|March 18, 2008
Summary
Experimental feline foamy virus (FFV) infection in cats showed persistent viraemia and subclinical kidney and lung pathology. Further research is needed before using FFV as a gene therapy vector.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Retroviral Research
- Gene Therapy Vectors
Background:
- Feline foamy virus (FFV) is a retrovirus in cats, often considered non-pathogenic.
- Its potential as a gene therapy vector is explored, but associations with arthritis and FIV cofactor effects exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate experimental FFV infection in cats.
- To determine if FFV infection is associated with clinical signs of disease.
Main Methods:
- Eight specific pathogen-free cats were inoculated with FFV.
- Monitoring included twice-weekly examinations, blood/pharyngeal sampling, haematology, biochemistry, and FFV qPCR.
- Tissue samples were collected over six months for analysis.
Main Results:
- FFV was detected in blood and pharyngeal samples, with two viraemia peaks observed.
- All cats developed anti-FFV IgG antibodies.
- Clinically, cats remained normal, but histopathology revealed mild glomerulonephritis and moderate interstitial pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Experimental FFV infection in cats leads to subclinical kidney and lung histopathological changes.
- Despite apparent clinical normality, these findings warrant further investigation before FFV can be used as a gene therapy vector.
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