title: Isolation of feline syncytia-forming virus from oropharyngeal swab samples and buffy coat cells.
abstract: Thirteen of 40 female cats were found to be chronically infected with feline syncytia-forming virus (FeSFV). Attempts to isolate the virus from these cats by conventional methods were not successful. However, virus was isolated from oropharyngeal swab samples and buffy coat cells. A new method was used involving inoculation of actively dividing Crandell feline kidney cell cultures. Cultures were trypsinized 3 days after inoculation and, as a result, cytopathic effect was amplified and ability to detect the virus was enhanced. The FeSFV was detected in 93% (92/88) of the oropharyngeal swab samples and 100% (14/14) of the buffy coat cell specimens. Feline sera were tested by immunodiffusion for precipitating antibody against FeSFV antigen. There was 100% correlation between viral infection and the presence of precipitating antibody. Virus and antibody persisted in infected cats for the duration of this study (8 months for 5 of the infected cats). Urolithiasis was observed in 15 of 28 male cats. Although a direct relationship between FeSFV infection and urolithiasis was not established, most of these male cats (20 of 21) had antibody to FeSFV.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002139:Caliciviridae / Q000254:growth & development; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000254:growth & development; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D014357:Trypsin