Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is known as a lifelong infection of cats. The acute phase corresponds to the period of viral replication in the host organism, followed by a period of lower replication when the animal is asymptomatic. Some years later, at the final stage, an immunodeficiency syndrome subsides. Hypergammaglobulinemia or a polyclonal gammapathy might be seen in some, but not all affected cats, mainly in the chronic phase of infection. This is thought to be due to a disturbance of cytokines production as a result of T CD4 + cells infection. Nonetheless, little is known regarding serum protein, specifically, gammaglobulin concentration in the early phase of FIV infection. Aiming at clarifing this, serum protein concentrations were determined before and 4, 8 and 12 months after FIV infection of ten domestic short-haired, male or female, 7 months old cats (group I). Ten cats of same age were maintained as controls (group II). All cats were FIV-naive cats, as confirmed by ELISA test. After infection, both, ELISA and PCR became positive only for the cats belonging to the group I. Serum protein concentration was measured by biuret method and protein fractions were obtained by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. An increase in the gammaglobulin concentration (2.01 ± 0.27g/dL, P<0.0001) could be observed 4 months p.i. in the group I. Twelve months after infection, no differences could be found on protein concentrations between both groups of cats.
cats; feline immunodeficiency virus; serum protein; electrophoresis
