FELINE ONCOVIRUS-ASSOCIATED CELL-MEMBRANE ANTIGEN AND FELINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS GROUP-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN EXPRESSION IN BONE-MARROW AND SERUM

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (4) , 737-743
Abstract
Feline retrovirus-induced possible preneoplastic lesions were identified by detection of feline oncovirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) in bone marrow (BM) and mesenteric lymph nodes of noninbred, domestic short- or long-hair kittens. Cell-bound FOCMA was detected 1-3 wk after feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infectionand at least 6 mo. before a tumor was evident. BM FOCMA was detected earlier and reached higher levels at early periods in cats that became persistently viremic. Serum FeLV group-specific antigen (gsa) increased more rapidly and reached a higher level in cats that became persistently viremic, but nonviremic cats still had detectable gsa as late as 7-9 mo. after FeLV infection, even in the presence of high levels of viral antibody. The presence in nonviremic cats of FeLV gsa in sera and FOCMA in BM and sera suggests that these cats may have a persistent, low-level FeLV infection.