Detection of virulent feline herpesvirus-1 in the corneas of clinically normal cats.
To evaluate the clinically normal feline cornea for the presence of virulent feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), corneas from 31 cats (25 with normal eyes and six with active disease or corneal scarring) euthanased at a shelter were collected. Corneas from two specific pathogen-free cats were included as negative controls. Virus isolation (VI), fluorescent antibody (FA) staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) were performed on all samples. The presence or absence of dexamethasone in the media was evaluated for its effect on VI. VI was positive for FHV-1 in six corneas from five cats, all with clinically normal eyes. One cornea was positive for feline calicivirus (FCV) in addition to FHV-1, but only in media that included dexamethasone. Eight corneas were positive on rt-PCR for FHV-1, all from cats with clinically normal eyes. All positive VI samples were confirmed with FA staining. VI and rt-PCR were negative for FHV-1 and FCV in cats with active disease or corneal scarring. Data from this study indicate that virulent FHV-1 and FCV can be present in feline corneas that are clinically normal. Dexamethasone may enhance viral spread through a cell receptor mechanism.
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002415:Cats; D003315:Cornea / Q000821:virology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014774:Virulence
D003907:Dexamethasone