title: Relationship between rate of infection and markers of inflammation/immunity in Holy Birman cats with feline coronavirus.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess whether Holy Birman cats (HB) have a peculiar immune profile and a higher rate of infection by feline coronaviruses (FCoV). Leucocyte and lymphocyte subsets, antibody titers, α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), globulin fractions, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ in blood and fecal FCoV excretion were determined in HB (n = 75) and in cats from other breeds (n = 94). Significantly higher CD4/CD8 ratio, IFN-γ concentration and IL12/IL4 ratio and significantly lower IL-4 concentration and proportion of shedders were found in HB than in other breeds. No other differences were found. In conclusion, this study did not provide evidence of peculiar immune profiles in HB, except for a prevalent Th1 profile, that may explain why in our caseload the rate of shedders was lower in HB than in other breeds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: saverio.paltrinieri@unimi.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paltrinieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D016765:Coronavirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D016766:Feline Infectious Peritonitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D009961:Orosomucoid; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: CD4/CD8 ratio; Feline coronavirus (FCoV); Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP); Holy Birman cat; Th1 cytokines; α(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP)