Isolation of a T-Lymphotropic Virus from Domestic Cats with an Immunodeficiency-Like Syndrome

TLDR

A novel T‑lymphotropic virus was isolated from a cattery of feline leukemia virus–negative cats, where several animals died or displayed an immunodeficiency‑like syndrome. Experimental infection of kittens via blood or plasma from naturally infected cats induced generalized lymphadenopathy, transient fever and leukopenia, persisting for at least five months. Serologic testing showed a higher prevalence of the virus in ill cats (10/25) than in healthy ones (1/18), the virus is antigenically distinct from HIV, and no cat‑to‑human transmission has been observed.

Abstract

A highly T-lymphotropic virus was isolated from cats in a cattery in which all the animals were seronegative for feline leukemia virus. A number of cats in one pen had died and several had an immunodeficiency-like syndrome. Only 1 of 18 normal cats in the cattery showed serologic evidence of infection with this new virus, whereas 10 of 25 cats with signs of ill health were seropositive for the virus. Tentatively designated feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus, this new feline retrovirus appears to be antigenically distinct from human immunodeficiency virus. There is no evidence for cat-to-human transmission of the agent. Kittens experimentally infected by way of blood or plasma from naturally infected animals developed generalized lymphadenopathy several weeks later, became transiently febrile and leukopenic, and continued to show a generalized lymphadenopathy 5 months after infection.