Effects of treatment with cobra venom factor on experimentally induced feline leukemia

Five- to six-month-old specific-pathogen-free cats were exposed to cobra venom factor (CVF) alone (4 cats), Rickard feline leukemia virus (FeLV; 9 cats), or CVF and FeLV (6 cats). Host-virus relationships were evaluated by monitoring the development of viremia, production of antibody against feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen, and amount of circulating immune complexes (CIC). Exposure to CVF induced complement depletion, which lasted 8 to 15 days. However, complement depletion did not promote the development of persistent viremia nor alter the production of antibody to feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen or CIC. Results indicated that the complement system did not protect cats during their initial exposure to FeLV and that an intact complement system was not necessary for the development of antibody against feline oncornavirus-associated antigen or for the formation of CIC.