title: Decline in CD4+ cell numbers in cats with naturally acquired feline immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: T-cell subsets were studied by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis in 57 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-seropositive cats with naturally acquired FIV infection to see whether CD4(+)-CD8+ alterations were comparable to those observed in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. CD4+ values were decreased and CD8+ values were increased. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio was reduced to 1.6, compared with 3.3 in 33 FIV-seronegative control cats. Variance analysis of data showed a significant influence of FIV seropositivity, sex, and spaying of female cats on CD4+ values. CD8+ values were significantly influenced by FIV seropositivity, age, and breed. These findings indicate a similarity between FIV and human immunodeficiency virus infections, as far as alterations of T-cell subsets are concerned.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immunologie, GSF, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoffmann-Fezer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ackley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herbold
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mysliwietz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thefeld
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kraft
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002369:Castration; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors