Feline immunodeficiency virusinfection: a comparative study of different diagnostic techniques

Abstract

This study evaluated an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect feline immunodeficiency virus infection (FIV) antibody in a comprehensive epidemiological survey of FIV in Argentina. IFA modified in our laboratory, was compared with two other immunoassays, western blot (WB) and a sandwich immunochromatographic commercial kit (SI), and also with a direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method that detects proviral DNA. IFA showed to be a test with high sensitivity and specificity, and could be useful as a diagnostic tool in epidemiological studies. The presence of a low percentage of results with non-specific reactivity in the IFA could be resolved with further testing or use of an alternative method.Keywords: feline immunodeficiency virus, immunofluorescence assay, western blot, polymerase chain reaction RESUMO Avaliou-se a técnica de imunofluorescência indireta (IFA) na detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) numa pesquisa epidemiológica do FIV na Argentina. A IFA foi modificada e comparada com duas outras técnicas imunológicas: western blot (WB) e imunocromatografia em camadas (SI) com kit comercial e também com reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR) para detecção do

Occurrence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus Infection in Cats

“…Reche et al (1997) and Souza et al (2002) found 8 and 17% of positive cats in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, respectively (Souza et al, 2002;Reche et al, 1997). The variability of serological and molecular diagnosis of feline immunodeficiency virus infection have been reported lately in others researches, in agreement with our study (Bienzle et al, 2004;Mortola et al, 2004). Seronegative samples with PCR positive results may be also found in cats living in close contact with FIV infected seropositive animals, becoming infected without developing antibodies or disease (Dandekar et al, 1992).…”