Studies on the humoral immune response to feline coronavirus

Addie, Diane D. (1991) Studies on the humoral immune response to feline coronavirus. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The first objective of this research was to evaluate the use of the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test in feline coronavirus (FCoV) infection. As a result of this work, guidelines for veterinary practitioners were established for the use of this test. Some differences between the reality of FCoV infection in the field and much of the present wisdom based on the extrapolation of experimental infections were found.

The second aim was to determine the fate of seropositive cats. Long-term observation of seropositive cats has never previously been attempted, so that whether these cats develop disease, become carriers, remain seropositive or become seronegative was unknown. We were also curious to discover what happened to kittens born to seropositive cats.

Chapter 1 is a review of the relevant literature to be cited later in the thesis and gives the reader an idea of the state of the art prior to this work.

In Chapter 2 the materials and methods which were used in the experiments described in this thesis are given. Additional materials and methods relevant to each chapter are to be found at the beginning of the chapter concerned.

In Chapter 3 an epidemiological survey is described. The prevalence of FCoV antibodies in cats from different backgrounds was determined. The cat most likely to be seropositive was the healthy pedigree (53% were seropositive) and the cat least likely to be seropositive was the healthy domestic (14% seropositive). Cats from multicat households (MCH) were more likely to be seropositive than those from single cat households (SCH).

Chapter 4 describes a survey of over 700 cats from 72 households in which cats were seropositive for FCoV.

In Chapter 5, the results of the survey of kittens born into the households described in Chapter 4 are presented. The most significant finding was that careful management of the kittens could prevent them from being infected in households where FCoV was endemic. Keeping kittens isolated with their mother considerably reduced the chances of the kittens becoming infected and none of the kittens which were totally isolated from all adults from 5-6 weeks of age seroconverted.

In Chapter 6 experiments are described in which sera from cats whose fates were known were immunoblotted.

Chapter 7 is a discussion of the results presented in this thesis and compares and contrasts these with previous work based on experimental infections. Future projects making use of the serum samples and data accumulated during this survey are proposed.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Veterinary science, virology, animal diseases, feline coronavirus.
• Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology; S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF600 Veterinary Medicine
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine > Veterinary Biosciences
• Supervisor's Name: Jarrett, Professor Os.
• Date of Award: 1991
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1991-77087
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2020 09:20
• Last Modified: 22 Apr 2024 15:40
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.77087
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/77087