Decrease in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

The blastformation tests using concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were carried out on peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The infected cats included those showing multiple chronic disease, those with a single mild sign, and one with no clinical sign. The infected cats showed significantly lower mitogenic responses of peripheral lymphocytes to both mitogens and lower lymphocyte counts as compared to uninfected healthy cats. These immunologic alterations in the infected cats may be closely related to the development of immunodeficiency-like disorders associated with FIV.