Detection of Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) in peripheral blood B- and T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic, naturally-infected domestic cats

Alicia J McLuckie; Vanessa R Barrs; Adrian L Smith; Julia A Beatty

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2016.07.018

Detection of Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) in peripheral blood B- and T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic, naturally-infected domestic cats

Virology. 2016 Oct:497:211-216. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.07.018. Epub 2016 Aug 3.

Authors

Alicia J McLuckie¹, Vanessa R Barrs¹, Adrian L Smith², Julia A Beatty³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Science and Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
² Advanced Cytometry Facility, University of Sydney/Centenary Institute, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ Faculty of Veterinary Science and Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: julia.beatty@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 27497183
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.07.018

Abstract

The domestic cat is natural host to both feline immunodeficiency virus and Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1). Comparative data suggest that these agents might act as synergistic copathogens in feline AIDS-related lymphoma. To identify leucocyte subsets harbouring gammaherpesvirus DNA, whole blood from 5 healthy, FcaGHV1-infected cats was labelled with monoclonal antibodies to feline CD21, CD4, CD8 and CD14 for 4-way fluorescence-activated cell sorting. FcaGHV1gB qPCR was performed on DNA extracted from purified fractions and whole blood longitudinally. FcaGHV1 DNA was detected in CD21+, CD4+, CD8+, but not CD14+ cells. Variation in whole blood load, up to 19,788 copies/10(6)cells, was detected in individual cats over time. FcaGHV1 DNA was undetectable in one cat on one occasion highlighting that qPCR of whole blood from a single time point will not detect all cases of FcaGHV1 infection. Further investigation of the role of FcaGHV1 in feline lymphoid malignancies is warranted.

Keywords: Cat; Feline; Gammaherpesvirus; Leucocyte; Virus load.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antigens, Surface / metabolism
B-Lymphocytes / immunology
B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
B-Lymphocytes / virology*
Cat Diseases / immunology
Cat Diseases / virology*
Cats
DNA, Viral
Gammaherpesvirinae / physiology*
Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
Immunophenotyping
Phenotype
T-Lymphocytes / immunology
T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
T-Lymphocytes / virology*
Viral Load

Substances

Antigens, Surface
DNA, Viral