2017 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

OFIs were an important complication in these dogs with select immune-mediated diseases. Patients were significantly more likely to develop an OFI if they had been treated with cyclosporine and if they were male. It has been proposed that a similar correlation exists for p27 antigen concentration. The purpose of this study was to utilize a next-generation microtiter plate ELISA to quantify p27 antigen concentrations and compare that with real-time PCR results for a population of samples obtained from the field. A total of 353 feline samples submitted between 2010 and 2015 to IDEXX Laboratories for RealPCR TM testing that included FeLV were utilized for the study. Matched plasma that had been stored frozen was tested using the PetChek Ã’ FeLV 15 ELISA (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.) for p27 antigen. Recombinant p27 protein was used to generate a standard curve for quantifying the results. Of the 89 FeLV PCR positive samples, 27 had crossing points (Cp) less than or equal to 21 and all had p27 concentrations greater than 50 ng/mL (average 286 ng/mL). Twenty-eight PCR positive samples had Cp greater than 30 and all had p27 concentrations less than 10 ng/ mL, with 19 having no detectable antigen. Of the 264 PCR negative samples, 24 samples had p27 antigen concentrations from 1-30 ng/mL. This study demonstrates a potential correlation between proviral DNA loads and the concentration of circulating p27 antigen. Results from the combined diagnostic methodologies may provide more objective information for staging (progressive or regressive-latent or regressive-focal) and monitoring FeLV infections. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) are globally distributed retroviruses capable of inducing fatal disease in cats. FeLV is spread primarily via saliva among cats in close casual contact whereas FIV is most commonly transmitted between combative cats through deep bite wounds. Rapid test methods for detection of FIV antibody and FeLV p27 antigen in blood are well established as standard practice among veterinarians to screen cats for these diseases. The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate macrogeographic trends in FIV and FeLV test results in pet cats over a 9-year period between 2008 and 2016. The data were mined from a comprehensive international database of SNAP Ã’ Feline Triple Ã’ , SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo, and SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo Plus field results and used to assess the frequency of singular and co-infections of these retroviruses in cats. Results were obtained from more than 2.9 million samples distributed across more than 26,000 unique postal codes from 68 countries. Countries were grouped geographically into 7 global regions: North America (3 countries, n = 2,538,792); Caribbean (8 countries, n = 6,882); Latin America (9 countries; n = 9,984); Northern Europe (20 countries, n = 95,800); Southern Europe (12 countries, n = 206,157); Middle East-Africa (6 countries, n = 4,787 samples); and Asia-Pacific (10 countries, n = 81,201).