title: Phylogenetic analysis of Portuguese Feline Immunodeficiency Virus sequences reveals high genetic diversity.
abstract: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a Lentivirus responsible for an immunodeficiency like disease in domestic cats. Based on the genetic diversity of the V3-V5 region of env gene FIV is divided in five phylogenetic subtypes (A, B, C, D and E) with a world-wide distribution. To understand the subtype diversity of FIV in Portugal a serological survey was conducted during 1 year in the Veterinary Faculty Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal to identify seropositive animals. Two viral genomic regions were amplified by a nested PCR, sequenced and the phylogenetic relationships between 24 new Portuguese FIV sequences and other previously published FIV isolates were assessed. The introduction of these sequences induced a subclustering in subtype B including most of the new Portuguese sequences. Moreover, a new cluster emerged, with two highly divergent new sequences that might represent a new subtype. The study of these new FIV isolates showed the presence in Portugal of a unique viral population subclustering within subtype B and of sequences clearly divergent from the five known subtypes, providing a contribution for the understanding of FIV's genetic diversity.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, CIISA, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal. anaduarte@fmv.utl.pt
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000235:genetics; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D020180:Heteroduplex Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000662:veterinary; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011174:Portugal
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes