Vaccination against feline leukaemia using a new feline herpesvirus type 1 vector

A recombinant feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) was constructed expressing the envelope glycoprotein gene from feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). The expression cassette containing the long terminal repeat promoter from Rous sarcoma virus was stably integrated at the locus downstream of the gC homologue in FHV-1. Oronasal vaccination with recombinant FHV-1 engendered significant protection against challenge with the homologous FelV-A/Glasgow-1 isolate. Three of four vaccinated cats did not become viraemic for FeLV and developed serum neutralizing antibodies while five of six controls became persistently infected after challenge. However, latent FeLV was detected at 12 weeks after challenge in bone marrow cultures of all animals except one. The potential of this new vector to protect against FeLV was compared with previous reports using live recombinant vaccines.