MOLEKULARNA I SEROLOŠKA DIJAGNOSTIKA ZARAZNE LEUKEMIJE MAČAKA

master's thesis

• Author: Lara Ferenčić
• Mentor: Matko Perharić (mentor)
• Mentor: Josipa Habuš (mentor)
• Committee member: Zrinka Štritof (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Vilim Starešina (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Matko Perharić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-02, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Abstract

Virus zarazne leukemije mačaka globalno je proširen u populaciji domaćih mačaka.
Zajedno s virusom mačje imunodeficijencije jedan je od vodećih infektivnih uzroka uginuća.
Kao i ostali pripadnici porodice Retroviridae, uz pomoć enzima reverzna transkriptaza i
integraza dio virusne ribonukleinske kiseline (RNK) prepisuje u provirusnu
deoksiribonukleinsku kiselinu (DNK) koja se ugrađuje u genom domaćina, što pak dovodi do
perzistentne infekcije u zaražene jedinke. Ipak, čak i nakon perzistente infekcije ovim virusom
mogući su različiti ishodi. S obzirom da ne postoji učinkovito etiološko liječenje, a mjere opće
i imunoprofilakse najvažniji su načini spriječavanja pojave i širenja ove zarazne bolesti, rano
prepoznavanje i određivanje stadija infekcije od iznimne je važnosti. Pravilan odabir
dijagnostičkih metoda važan je jer uporabom komercijalnih dijagnostičkih testova nije moguće
detektirati infekciju u njenoj regresivnoj fazi, ali i zbog toga što zaražena jedinka ne predstavlja
izvor zaraze u svim stadijima bolesti. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi podudarnost i
potrebu provođenja seroloških i molekularnih metoda dijagnostike zarazne leukemije mačaka.
U tu svrhu pretraženo je ukupno 42 uzorka pune krvi mačaka uporabom serološke i molekularne
metode dijagnostike. Serološkom metodom dijagnostike odnosno komercijalnim
imunoenzimskim testom infekcija je potvrđena u 15 uzoraka, dok je u preostalih 27 uzoraka
rezulat bio negativan. Molekularnom metodom dijagnostike u svih 15 serološki pozitivnih
uzoraka potvrđena je prisutnost provirusa, stoga je podudarnost pozitivne serološke pretrage i
molekularne metode dijagnostike 100%. S druge strane, među 27 serološki negativnih uzoraka
pune krvi, molekularnom metodom je infekcija virusom mačje leukemije dokazana je u dva
uzorka ukazujući na prisutnost regresivne infekcije. Podudarnost negativnog serološkog nalaza
s molekularnom metodom iznosi 92,6%. Ovaj rezultat potvrđuje nužnost uporabe obje
dijagnostičke metode s ciljem postavljanja što pouzdanije i točnije dijagnostike, ali i utvrđivanja
stadija infekcije što je pak iznimno važno za uspostavljanje učinkovite kontrole infekcije
virusom zarazne leukemije mačaka.

Abstract (english)

Feline leukemia virus infection is spread globally in the domestic cat population.
Together with feline immunodeficiency virus, it is one of the leading infectious causes of death.
Like other members of the Retroviridae family, with the help of enzymes reverse transcriptase
and integrase, part of the viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) is transcribed into proviral
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and is incorporated into the host's genome, which in turn leads
to persistent infection in infected individuals. However, even after persistent infection with this
virus, different outcomes are possible. Given that there is no effective etiological treatment, and
general measures and immunoprophylaxis are the most important ways to prevent the
occurrence and spread of this infectious disease, early recognition and determination of the
stage of infection is extremely important. The correct choice of diagnostic methods is important
because commercial diagnostic tests are not able to detect the infection in its regressive phase,
but also because the infected individual is not the source of infection in all stages of the disease.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between serological and molecular
methods and assess the need for complementary use of both tests in FeLV diagnosis. For this
purpose, a total of 42 feline blood samples were analyzed using serological and molecular
diagnostic methods. The infection was confirmed in 15 samples using a serological diagnostic
method, i.e. a commercial immunoenzyme test, while the findings were negative in the
remaining 27 samples. The molecular diagnostic method confirmed the presence of the provirus
in all 15 serologically positive samples, therefore the concordance between the positive
serological test and the molecular diagnostic method was 100%. Among 27 serologically
negative samples, FeLV infection was detected in two additional samples by proviral PCR. In
this case, the agreement between a negative serological finding and the molecular method was
92.6 %. Our results confirm the necessity of using both diagnostic methods to establish a
reliable and accurate diagnosis. Complementary application is also important to determine the
stage of the infection, which is extremely important for effective control of FeLV infection.

• Keywords: virus zarazne leukemije mačaka (FeLV); dijagnostika; serološka pretraga; PCR
• Keywords (english): Feline leukemia virus (FeLV); diagnostic; serological test; PCR
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:948271
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-02-28 13:44:36