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Serological Studies of Normal and Leukemic Cats in a Multiple-Case Leukemia Cluster¹

Angell Memorial Animal Hospital [S. M. C.], and Department of Microbiology, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 [M. E.], and Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York 10021 [W. D. H.]

Eleven cases of lymphoblastic leukemia and four cases of feline infectious peritonitis occurred in a private household population of 35 predominantly unrelated cats over a 39-month period. The study conducted on this population consisted of periodic physical examinations, hemograms, serological testing for feline leukemia virus group-specific antigens (gs) and for antibody to feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA). Serological values were compared to those for healthy and leukemic control cats from the same geographical area.

Leukemic household cats had a higher mean age and had been in the household longer than those that remained healthy. Six of 9 leukemic cats were positive for FeLV (as were 9 of 10 leukemic cats living in other environments). Both the control and cluster household leukemic cats also had low geometric mean antibody titers to the FOCMA antigen (0.72 and 0.76, respectively). This differed from healthy controls from outside the house that were all negative for gs antigens and had a mean antibody titer of 1.66. For healthy controls within the house, the mean antibody titer was 4.65 and 5 of 17 were positive for gs antigens. This difference is apparently due to more frequent or more recent exposure to virus in the cluster household. Relatives of leukemic cats were no more likely to develop leukemia or become gs positive than relatives of healthy cats. Cats developing leukemia appear to be unable to produce or maintain a high FOCMA antibody titer. It was concluded that these data support the theory of horizontal transmission of feline leukemia virus.

¹ This study was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (CA-08748), the New York Cancer Research Institute, the Oliver S. and Jennie R. Donaldson Charitable Trust, the Massachusetts Branch of the American Cancer Society, the Jane Coffin Childs Fund for Medical Research, and the Anna Fuller Fund.

² Scholar of the Leukemia Society of American.

³ Special Fellow of the Leukemia Society of America.

Received 9/ 7/73. Accepted 2/ 6/74.

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				M Essex, A Sliski, S. Cotter, R. Jakowski, and W. Hardy Jr Immunosurveillance of naturally occurring feline leukemia Science, November 21, 1975; 190(4216): 790 - 792. [Abstract] [PDF]