Genetic Characterization of Feline Leukemia Virus from Florida Panthers

Abstract Background: The hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) of the genus Mycoplasma are recognized as important bacteria that parasitize red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in many mammalian species, including cats. No information is available concerning the presence of feline hemoplasma infections in cats in Romania. Thus, the objective of the present study was to provide data on the occurrence and molecular characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in client-owned cats in Romania.Methods: Blood samples from 51 unhealthy cats, originating from Timişoara Municipality, Romania, were screened for the presence of hemoplasmas using conventional polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing assays. PCR-positive samples were subsequently analyzed by phylogenetic and population genetic analysis.Results: Molecular analysis revealed 11 (21.6%) positive samples, consisting of 8 (72.7%) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 3 (27.3%) Mycoplasma haemofelis confirmed positives. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis was not detected, and no co-infections were registered. No significant associations (p > 0.05) were found between the hemoplasma infection status and age, gender, breed, presence of ectoparasites, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus (FeLV/FIV) positivity of cats, or the sampling season. However, outdoor access was positively associated (p=0.049) with infection and could be considered a risk factor (OR=4.1) in acquiring feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our sequences clustered with those selected from the GenBank database in two distinct clades. The registered population genetic indices were strongly supportive of the great variance in sequences between the recorded Mycoplasma species.Conclusions: The findings support the occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in previously uninvestigated territories of Europe, providing useful information for small animal practitioners. To our knowledge, the present survey is the first reported molecular evidence of feline hemoplasma infections in Romania.

Download Full-text

Rapid characterization of feline leukemia virus infective stages by a novel nested recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and reverse transcriptase-RPA

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-01585-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sitthichok Lacharoje ◽

Somporn Techangamsuwan ◽

Nuntaree Chaichanawongsaroj

Keyword(s):

Reverse Transcriptase ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification ◽

Feline Leukemia Virus ◽

Immunochromatographic Assay ◽

Rapid Characterization ◽

And Control

AbstractFeline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a major viral disease in cats, causing leukemia and lymphoma. The molecular detection of FeLV RNA and the DNA provirus are important for staging of the disease. However, the rapid immunochromatographic assay commonly used for antigen detection can only detect viremia at the progressive stage. In this study, nested recombinase polymerase amplification (nRPA) was developed for exogenous FeLV DNA provirus detection, and reverse transcriptase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) was developed for the detection of FeLV RNA. The approaches were validated using 108 cats with clinicopathologic abnormalities due to FeLV infection, and from 14 healthy cats in a vaccination plan. The nRPA and RT-RPA assays could rapidly amplify the FeLV template, and produced high sensitivity and specificity. The FeLV detection rate in regression cats by nRPA was increased up to 45.8% compared to the rapid immunochromatographic assay. Hence, FeLV diagnosis using nRPA and RT-RPA are rapid and easily established in low resource settings, benefiting FeLV prognosis, prevention, and control of both horizontal and vertical transmission.

Download Full-text

Feline leukemia virus: biochemical and immunological characterization of gag gene-coded structural proteins.

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.23.3.599-607.1977 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 599-607 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

A S Khan ◽

J R Stephenson

Keyword(s):

Leukemia Virus ◽

Feline Leukemia Virus ◽

Structural Proteins ◽

Immunological Characterization

Download Full-text

Characterization of a newly established nonproducer lymphoma cell line for feline leukemia virus

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology ◽

10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.08.009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 102 (4) ◽

pp. 429-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Yasuhito Fujino ◽

Zhiyong Ma ◽

Hitoshi Satoh ◽

Takuya Mizuno ◽

Masaharu Hisasue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Line ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Lymphoma Cell ◽

Feline Leukemia Virus ◽

Lymphoma Cell Line

Download Full-text

Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of feline chronic gingivostomatitis

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1177/1098612x16628578 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 403-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Veronica Machado Rolim ◽

Saulo Petinatti Pavarini ◽

Fabrício Souza Campos ◽

Viviam Pignone ◽

Cláudia Faraco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Feline Leukemia Virus ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Tissue Sections ◽

Grade 3 ◽

Bilateral Lesions

Objectives This study presents the clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characterization of 26 cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG). Methods Oral mucosal biopsies, blood and swabs were collected from cats presenting with oral lesions. The tissue sections were submitted for histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis for feline calicivirus (FCV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The swabs were subjected to PCR analysis for FCV, and blood for FeLV and FIV. Results The main clinical findings were dysphagia (88.2%), halitosis (76.5%), sialorrhea (47.1%), weight loss (41.2%), intense oral discomfort (35.3%), oral hemorrhage (17.6%), and lackluster and fragile coat (11.8%). Gross inspection revealed bilateral lesions across the palatoglossal fold to the lateral tongue base. The lesions were diffuse, proliferative, intensely red and friable, and bled easily upon examination in 80.8% of cases. In 23.1% of cases, the lesions were multifocal to coalescent, at times forming multiple vesicles on a reddened, edematous palatoglossal fold. Microscopic examination showed that 15.4% of lesions had moderate (grade 2) and 84.6% had severe (grade 3) inflammation. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of FeLV antigens in the epithelium and the inflammatory infiltrate of 30.8% of the cats with FCG. FCV antigens were not detected in the FCG lesions. Conclusions and relevance The FCG cases analyzed could not be correlated with FCV. It is possible that FeLV plays a role as a causal agent of lesions in cases where the presence of the virus has been confirmed by immunohistochemistry in epithelial samples.

Download Full-text

Identification of a Feline Leukemia Virus Variant That Can Use THTR1, FLVCR1, and FLVCR2 for Infection

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02317-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (13) ◽

pp. 6706-6716 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Zvi Shalev ◽

Simon P. Duffy ◽

Karen W. Adema ◽

Rati Prasad ◽

Naveen Hussain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Variable Region ◽

Feline Leukemia Virus ◽

The Novel ◽

Related Protein ◽

Recognition Sequence ◽

Virus Variant ◽

Receptor Recognition

ABSTRACT The pathogenic subgroup C feline leukemia virus (FeLV-C) arises in infected cats as a result of mutations in the envelope (Env) of the subgroup A FeLV (FeLV-A). To better understand emergence of FeLV-C and potential FeLV intermediates that may arise, we characterized FeLV Env sequences from the primary FY981 FeLV isolate previously derived from an anemic cat. Here, we report the characterization of the novel FY981 FeLV Env that is highly related to FeLV-A Env but whose variable region A (VRA) receptor recognition sequence partially resembles the VRA sequence from the prototypical FeLV-C/Sarma Env. Pseudotype viruses bearing FY981 Env were capable of infecting feline, human, and guinea pig cells, suggestive of a subgroup C phenotype, but also infected porcine ST-IOWA cells that are normally resistant to FeLV-C and to FeLV-A. Analysis of the host receptor used by FY981 suggests that FY981 can use both the FeLV-C receptor FLVCR1 and the feline FeLV-A receptor THTR1 for infection. However, our results suggest that FY981 infection of ST-IOWA cells is not mediated by the porcine homologue of FLVCR1 and THTR1 but by an alternative receptor, which we have now identified as the FLVCR1-related protein FLVCR2. Together, our results suggest that FY981 FeLV uses FLVCR1, FLVCR2, and THTR1 as receptors. Our findings suggest the possibility that pathogenic FeLV-C arises in FeLV-infected cats through intermediates that are multitropic in their receptor use.

Download Full-text