Abstract
Summary
Sera of adult domestic cats and humans (veterinarians and laboratory workers) were surveyed for the presence of virus neutralizing antibodies against feline leukemia-sarcoma viruses of subgroups A, B and C. A focus neutralization test was used based on the neutralization of feline cell transforming effects of approximately 100 focus forming units of feline leukemia pseudotypes of Harvey strain of murine sarcoma virus (Harvey strain of murine sarcoma virus with the viral envelopes of the described serotypes of feline leukemia virus).
Virus neutralizing envelope antibodies against one or more envelope antigenic types were found in the sera of 13 of 59 (22%) cats without neoplasia and in 9 of 38 (23.7%) cats with neoplastic disease but not in the sera of 36 veterinarians or in 33 laboratory personnel working in two laboratories engaged in feline leukemia virus research.
The implications of these findings are discussed.
We are indebted to Drs. Roger Wilsnack and Jack Gruber for providing the goat antiserum against FL-74 virus and to Dr. Paul Arnstein for providing the dog antiserum against GA strain of feline sarcoma virus.
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