Domestic cats endure infections by all three subfamilies of the retroviridae: lentiviruses (feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV]), gammaretroviruses (feline leukemia virus [FeLV]), and spumaretroviruses (feline foamy virus [FFV]). Thus, cats present an insight into the evolution of the host-retrovirus relationship and the development of intrinsic/innate immune mechanisms. Tetherin (BST-2) is an ...

BACKGROUND Feline models of neurologic diseases, such as lysosomal storage diseases, leukodystrophies, Parkinson's disease, stroke and NeuroAIDS, accurately recreate many aspects of human disease allowing for comparative study of neuropathology and the testing of novel therapeutics. Here we describe in vivo visualization of fine structures within the feline brain that were previously only visib...

While hemoplasma infections in domestic cats are well studied, almost no information is available on their occurrence in wild felids. The aims of the present study were to investigate wild felid species as possible reservoirs of feline hemoplasmas and the molecular characterization of the hemoplasma isolates. Blood samples from the following 257 wild felids were analyzed: 35 Iberian lynxes from...

To develop feline and canine interferons as medicine for companion animal, silkworm-baculovirus expression system was established as a manufacturing technology. Thus produced interferons were successfully cleared for a sale in commercial market. For expression of feline interferon in the silkworm, recombinant Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) was constructed carrying feline interferon cD...

The purpose of this case study was to describesthe infection withfeline calicivirus manifested aschronic stomatitis, rhinitisand otitis ina Bengal cat. Acat presented the clinic due inappetence, weakness, and frequent vomiting. It hadnever been vaccinated, never given anthelmintic. had an openwound on itsback,andpurulent dischargewas appearing inthe earand nose. Usingan antigen testkit, Feline ...

BACKGROUND Component resolved allergen diagnosis allows for a precise evaluation of the sensitization profiles of patients sensitized to felines and canines. An accurate interpretation of these results allows better insight into the evolution of a given patients sensitizations, and allows for a more precise evaluation of their prognoses. METHODS 70 patients (42 women and 28 men, aged 18-65, w...

Bartonella henselae, a zoonotic agent, induces tumors of endothelial cells (ECs), namely bacillary angiomatosis and peliosis in immunosuppressed humans but not in cats. In vitro studies on ECs represent to date the only way to explore the interactions between Bartonella henselae and vascular endothelium. However, no comparative study of the interactions between Bartonella henselae and human (in...

The apoptosis process is crucial to various biological processes including embryo development and organism homeostasis. Inducing apoptosis of cancer cells has become a very attractive field for cancer therapy in the recent years. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL; also called Apo2L, TNFSF10, CD253, or TL2) is a member of tumor necrosis factor family. Preclinical stu...

Domestic cats share human living environments and genetic traits. They develop spontaneous feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) with similar histopathology to human breast cancer. HER2 and AKT phosphorylation was demonstrated in primary FMC by immunoblot analysis, indicating HER2 as a therapeutic target. FMC lines K12 and K248 expressing HER1, HER2, and HER3 were sensitive to receptor tyrosine kinase...