This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kipar, A. Articles by Reinacher, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kipar, A. Articles by Reinacher, M.

Expression of Viral Proteins in Feline Leukemia Virus-associated Enteritis

Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany (AK, IVB, MR); Nine Lives Veterinary Practice for Cats, Hockley Heath, Great Britain (JK); and Custom Monoclonals International, West Sacramento, CA (CKG)

Fourteen cases of feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-associated enteritis were immunohistologically examined for the expression of FeLV proteins gp70, p27, and p15E in the jejunum, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Results were compared with those of FeLV-infected cats without intestinal alterations. Other viral infections and specific bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections were excluded by standard microbiologic methods, histopathology, immunohistology, and in situ hybridization. In FeLV-associated enteritis, FeLV gp70 and p15E were strongly expressed in intestinal crypt epithelial cells. In contrast, FeLV-positive cats without intestinal alterations showed only faint staining for gp70 and p15E and comparatively strong p27 expression in these cells. Findings suggest a direct relation between FeLV infection and alterations in intestinal crypt epithelial cells that may be attributed to the envelope proteins gp70 and p15E and/or their precursor protein. Distinct similarities to the intestinal changes in the experimentally induced FeLV–feline AIDS syndrome are obvious, suggesting that naturally occurring feline AIDS variants may be responsible for FeLV-associated enteritis.

Key words: Cats; feline AIDS; FeLV; FeLV proteins; gp70; intestines.

Request reprints from Dr. A. Kipar, Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 96, D-35392 Giessen (Germany). E-mail: anja.kipar{at}vetmed.uni-giessen.de.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Kipar, J. Kremendahl, M. L. Jackson, and M. Reinacher Comparative Examination of Cats with Feline Leukemia Virus-associated Enteritis and Other Relevant Forms of Feline Enteritis Vet. Pathol., July 1, 2001; 38(4): 359 - 371. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]