Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
A Method to Assess Fc-mediated Effector Functions Induced by Influenza Hemagglutinin Specific Antibodies
Published on: February 23, 2018
Quantitative measurement of antibody inhibiting reverse transcriptase activity in cats naturally infected with feline
1Department of Virology, Kanagawa Prefectural Public Health Laboratory, Yokohama, Japan.
Insights
Researchers measured reverse transcriptase-inhibiting (RTI) antibodies in FIV-infected cats. Antibody activity varied significantly based on the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) strain used, highlighting the need for appropriate strain selection in testing.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important pathogen in domestic cats worldwide.
- Quantitative measurement of antibodies against FIV is crucial for understanding viral infection and immune response.
- Reverse transcriptase-inhibiting (RTI) antibodies are key indicators of FIV infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively measure RTI antibodies in naturally FIV-infected Japanese household cats.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different FIV strains in detecting RTI antibodies.
- To determine the importance of FIV strain selection for accurate antibody detection.
Main Methods:
- Poly A-linked colorimetric reverse transcriptase assay (PAC-RTA) was employed for quantitative antibody measurement.
- FIV-seropositive cat plasma samples were serially diluted and incubated with FIV reverse transcriptase (RT).
- Fifty percent RTI activity (RTI50) was calculated using dose-response curves.
Main Results:
- Plasma from FIV-seropositive cats exhibited varying RTI activities against different FIV strains.
- Six out of eight samples showed significant RTI activity against two Japanese FIV isolates (subtype B).
- Only one sample demonstrated RTI activity against the Petaluma strain (subtype A).
Conclusions:
- The detection of RTI antibodies in cats is highly dependent on the specific FIV strain used as the RT source.
- Accurate diagnosis and immunological studies require the selection of an appropriate FIV strain for RT assays.
- This study underscores the importance of strain-specific considerations in FIV antibody testing and research.
Abstract:
Quantitative measurement of reverse transcriptase-inhibiting (RTI) antibodies in Japanese household cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was performed by poly A-linked colorimetric reverse transcriptase assay (PAC-RTA). Eight FIV-seropositive plasma samples were diluted twofold from 1:10 to 1:160 and incubated with FIV RT. Fifty percent RTI activity (RTI50) was calculated from a dose response PAC-RTA curve. The plasma of FIV-seropositive cats showed different RTI activities against two Japanese isolates and Petaluma strain. Six of eight plasma samples showed RTI activities against the Japanese isolates (subtype B), but only one showed RTI activity against Petaluma strain (subtype A). It is important to use the appropriate strain as a source of RT for detection of RTI antibody in cats.
