title: Effects of passive transfer of immunity on results of diagnostic tests for antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus in kittens born to vaccinated queens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether passive transfer of immunity affects results of diagnostic tests for antibodies against FIV in kittens born to vaccinated queens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 specific-pathogen-free queens and their 55 kittens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Queens were vaccinated with a whole-virus FIV vaccine prior to breeding. Serum was obtained from the queens on the day of parturition and from the kittens on days 2 and 7, then weekly until results of tests for antibodies against FIV were negative for 2 consecutive weeks. Milk was collected from the queens daily for the first week and then weekly. Serum and milk were tested for antibodies against FIV with 2 commercial assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Antibodies against FIV were detected in serum obtained from the queens on the day of parturition and in the milk throughout lactation. All kittens tested positive for antibodies against FIV at 2 days of age. At 8 weeks of age, 30 (55%) kittens tested positive with 1 of the commercial assays, and 35 (64%) tested positive with the other. All kittens tested negative for antibodies against FIV by 12 weeks of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that kittens readily absorb antibodies against FIV in colostrum from vaccinated queens and that these antibodies may interfere with results of commercially available tests for FIV infection past the age of weaning. Currently licensed diagnostic tests for FIV infection are unable to distinguish among kittens with antibodies against FIV as a result of infection, passive transfer from infected queens, and passive transfer from vaccinated queens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Sylvia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: P Cynda
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000662:veterinary*; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines