Diagnóstico sorológico e molecular do Vírus da Leucemia Felina (FELV) de animais procedentes de abrigo de São Luís - MA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical aspects and to perform standardization of PCR for the diagnosis of feline leukemia in the city of. Whole blood samples from 50 felines were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect proviral DNA with amplification of a 450 bp fragment of the FeLV gag gene, according to Finoketti et al. (1993). For the detection of FeLV p27 antigen, 50 samples were tested using the Leukemia and Immune Deficiency Ag Kit Kit (Alere ™) kit. 8% (4/50) of FeLV positivity was obtained considering all the tests used. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has a sensitivity of 90% (even without differentiating endogenous FeLV from the exogenous) and a specificity of 100%, being used as a confirmatory test. The PCR technique used to identify the gag gene identified the provial DNA, ie, viral DNA sequences integrated into the host genome. In addition, PCR of the GAPDH sequence was performed to evaluate the efficacy of extractions and DNA integrity and / or the presence of PCR inhibitors. The product of this test resulted in a single band of 709bp in agarose gel, characterizing success in the second DNA amplifications The main clinical findings were: halitosis, intense salivation, gingivostomatitis, pharyngitis, oral bleeding, ulcerations in the dorsal and lateral portion of the tongue, glossopalatine arch lesions, cachexia, lethargy , Diarrhea and animals that had co-infections (respiratory signs) due to other diseases due to immunosuppression. The analysis of hematimetric and biochemical variables between FeLV positive and negative animals did not show statistically significant differences (p> 0.05). No animals were diagnosed in co-infection with feline immunodeficiency, working successfully to standardize the PCR reactions for the gag gene.