Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
FELINE RETROVIRUSES
Adv Viral Oncol; 5:1-34 1985. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/85611481 Hardy WD Jr; Lab. of Veterinary Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer; Center, Sloan-Kettering Div., Graduate Sch. of Medical Sciences,; Cornell Univ., 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10021
Abstract:
Feline retroviruses occur commonly in their natural species, the pet cat. It has been estimated that there are 40 million cats in the United States, and approx 2% or approx 1 million are infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV). More pet cats die from FeLV infections than from any other infectious disease agent. FeLV are highly contagious among cats, but control methods and vaccination have been developed to prevent the spread of these viruses. Feline viruses are discussed under the following headings and subheadings: virology (endogenous feline retroviruses, endogenous FeLV-related sequences, exogenous infectious FeLV, defective FeLV myc recombinant proviruses, FeLV genome), pathogenesis of FeLV infection, consequences of FeLV exposure, epidemiology of FeLV, feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen, immune response to FeLV infection, prevention of the spread of FeLV, FeLV vaccine, possible mechanisms of FeLV-induced leukemogenesis (FeLV as a chronic leukemia virus, FeLV as an acute leukemia virus), FeLV diseases (lymphoid diseases, degenerative lymphoid diseases, feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, erythroid diseases, myeloid diseases, other FeLV disease), and feline sarcoma viruses (FeSV; FeSV-induced tumors of pet cats, FeSV isolates). There is evidence of env gene recombinant leukemogenic mink cytopathic-focus-forming (MCF)-like FeLV that may induce lymphosarcoma (LSA) by a mechanism similar to that of MCF-induced AKR murine lymphomas. There is also evidence of oncogene (c-myc) alteration of FeLV-myc-defective proviruses in 14% of feline T-cell LSA. FeLV induce both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. FeLV also induces feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is very similar to human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. FeSV containing unique onc genes occur in pet cats, and the cat may be the best species from which to isolate and determine the number of oncogenes in the mammalian genome. (188 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/ETIOLOGY/VETERINARY Animal Antigens, Viral/IMMUNOLOGY Cat Diseases/*ETIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Cats Genes, Viral Leukemia/VETERINARY Leukemia Virus, Feline/*GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/ETIOLOGY/VETERINARY Lymphatic Diseases/ETIOLOGY/VETERINARY Myeloproliferative Disorders/ETIOLOGY/VETERINARY Oncogenes Sarcoma/VETERINARY Sarcoma Virus, Feline/*GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY Tumor Virus Infections/IMMUNOLOGY/TRANSMISSION/*VETERINARY Viral Vaccines/THERAPEUTIC USE JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW
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