title: Immunologic abnormalities in pathogen-free cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Blood mononuclear cells from 47 cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were examined by using monoclonal antibodies directed against feline CD4 and CD8 homologs, a pan-T-cell antigen, and cell surface immunoglobulin. Significant inversion of the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio was observed only in cats that were infected for 18 months or more. This inversion was associated with a decrease in the absolute numbers of CD4+ T cells and a concomitant increase in CD8+ cells. However, the total numbers of circulating T and B cells were not significantly reduced. Cats infected with FIV for 24 to 28 months also had significantly elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), but normal levels of IgA and IgM. The long-term decline in CD4+ T cells and hypergammaglobulinemia observed in FIV-infected cats resemble the abnormalities occurring in humans after human immunodeficiency virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ackley
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002415:Cats; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins