title: Interferon-gamma in the serum and effusions of cats with feline coronavirus infection.
abstract: The aim of this study was to quantify and compare interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentrations in the serum of clinically normal cats infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV) with its concentration in the sera and effusions of cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease associated with infection with a mutated form of FCoV. Clinically normal FCoV-infected cats living in catteries with a high prevalence of FIP had the highest serum IFN-gamma concentrations. The serum concentration of IFN-gamma was not significantly different in cats with FIP compared with clinically normal FCoV-infected animals living in catteries with a low prevalence of the disease. Moreover, the concentration of IFN-gamma was significantly higher in the effusions than in the serum of cats with FIP, probably due to IFN-gamma production within lesions. These findings support the hypothesis that there is a strong, 'systemic' cell mediated immune response in clinically normal, FCoV-infected cats and that a similar process, albeit at a tissue level, is involved in the pathogenesis of FIP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paltrinieri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma