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Feline foamy virus
Synonym(s): FFV, FeSFV, feline syncytium-forming virus
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Family: Retroviridae.
- Genus: Spumavirus.
Etymology
- In tissue culture, FFV (also known formerly as FeSFV) causes fusion of adjacent cells into large, multinucleated cells or syncytia, giving rise to the name "synctium forming" or "foamy" virus. "Spuma" is Latin for foamy.
Distribution
- Worldwide.
- Ubiquitous.
Significance
- In cats:
-
- Generally considered to be apathogenic (Loh 1993).
- Main significance is as potential contaminant of cell cultures in research and vaccine production.
Active Forms
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Resting Forms
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Clinical Effects
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Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- German A C, Harbour D A, Helps C R et al (2008) Is feline foamy virus really apathogenic? Vet Immunol Immunopathol 123 (1-2), 114-118 PubMed.
- Romen F, Pawlita M, Sehr P et al (2006) Antibodies against Gag are diagnostic markers for feline foamy virus infections while Env and Bet reactivity is undetectable in a substantial fraction of infected cats. Virology 345 (2), 502-508 PubMed.
- Schwantes A, Ortlepp I, Löchelt M et al (2002) Construction and functional characterization of feline foamy virus-based retroviral vectors. Virology 301 (1), 53-63 PubMed.
- Alke A, Schwantes A, Zemba M et al (2000) Characterization of the humoral immune response and virus replication in cats experimentally infected with feline foamy virus. Virology 275 (1), 170-176 PubMed.
- Linial M L (1999) Foamy viruses are unconventional retroviruses. J Virol 73 (3), 1747-1755 PubMed.
- Wang G, Mulligan M J (1999) Comparative sequence analysis and predictions for the envelope glycoproteins of foamy viruses. J Gen Virol 80 (Pt 1), 245-254 PubMed.
- Winkler I G, Flügel R M, Löchelt M et al (1998) Detection and molecular characterisation of feline foamy virus serotypes in naturally infected cats. Virology 247 (2), 144-151 PubMed.
- Pedersen N C, Pool R R, O'Brien T (1980) Feline chronic progressive polyarthritis. Am J Vet Res 41 (4), 522-535 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Loh P (1993) Spumaviruses. In: J A Levy (ed) The Retroviridae, vol 2. Plenum Press, New York, NY.
Organization(s)
- Companion Animal Diagnostics, Veterinary Diagnostic Services, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland. Tel: + 44 141 330 5777; Fax: + 44 141 330 5748; E-mail: companion@vet.gla.ac.uk