Plasma Electrophoretogram in Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and/or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) Infections

Abstract

The electrophoretogram of 89 cats, including those infected by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV+), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV+) and non-infected, showed statistically significant differences in several of the fractions. FIV+ cats had very high protein values (mean, 8.10 g/dl), mostly because of hypergammaglobulinemia (mean, 2.81 g/dl) as compared with non-infected animals and FeLV+. In addition, in these FIV+ animals, the albumin/globulins ratio (A/G) was very low (mean, 0.72). Statistically significant differences in A/G and alpha2-globulin fraction were observed in FeLV+ group (A/G mean, 0.88 +/- 0.08; alpha2-globulin, mean, 0.84 +/- 0.07 g/dl) when compared with non-infected group (A/G mean, 1.06 +/- 0.08; alpha2-globulin mean, 0.68 +/- 0.04 g/dl). The alpha1-globulin fraction was higher in double infected animals (FIV and FeLV positive, F-F) (3.55 g/dl), than in FeLV+ or FIV+ cats (3.10 and 3.07 g/dl respectively), but no statistical conclusions may be drawn from this fact because of the low number of F-F animals. This technique may help to assess the initial clinical status of retrovirus-infected cats, and the clinical course of these chronic diseases, specifically during and after suitable therapy.

Use of recombinant interferon omega in feline retrovirosis: From theory to practice

“…Three treated cats were brought for follow-up examination until month 12 (V3). Blood sampling, hemogram, leukogram, biochemical profile, electrophoretogram, and CD4/CD8 determination were conducted as described previously (Miro et al, 2007). FeLV p27 and FIV p24 proteins were evaluated using commercial Petchek kits developed by Idexx (Westbrook, ME, USA), and RT activity was measured with kits provided by Cavidi Tech (Uppsala, Sweden).…”

Clinical Aspects of Feline Retroviruses: A Review

“…Secondary immune-mediated diseases are more commonly seen in FIV- than in FeLV-infected cats. When comparing plasma electrophoretograms, FeLV-infected cats do not show hypergammaglobulinemia and hyperproteinemia significantly more often than non-infected cats, whereas in FIV-infection, hypergammaglobulinemia and hyperproteinemia occur significantly more commonly [4,157]. …”

Clinical aspects of feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus infection

“…Cats with glomerulonephritis have more circulating FeLV antigen that do other FeLV-infected cats. However, in a recent study FeLV-infected cats in general did not show significantly more commonly hypergammaglobulinemia in plasma electrophoretogram in contrast to FIV-infected cats (Miro et al, 2007), and hyperproteinemia is not a common problem in FeLV-infected cats (in contrast to FIV infection) (Gleich and Hartmann, 2009). Antigens that can lead to antigen antibody complex formation include not only whole virus particles but also free gp70, p27, or p15E proteins (Day et al, 1980;Tuomari et al, 1984).…”