FELINE CALICIVIRUS STRAIN DIFFERENTIATION USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY ANALYSIS IN AN ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNO-FLOW-ASSAY

Six monoclonal antibodies raised against feline calicivirus (FCV) stra in F9 were used in an enzyme-linked immune-flow-assay (ELIFA) to analy se 55 isolates of FCV. Forty seven field isolates were obtained from c ats with acute oral/respiratory disease, chronic oral lesions, and fro m cats showing vaccine reactions, i.e. clinical signs of FCV infection shortly after vaccination. Eight reference strains including F9 and t hree vaccine strains based on F9 were also examined. All of the strain s of F9, derived from various sources, reacted with all six of the mon oclonal antibodies, whereas some of the field isolates did not react w ith any. In general, the field isolates showed a spectrum of reactivit ies and selected isolates could be distinguished. However, there were no clear cut differences between the clinical groups. Overall, the ora l/respiratory group showed less reactivity with the monoclonals, sugge sting they were less related to F9. Although the other groups appeared to be more closely related to F9, none of the isolates tested reacted with all six monoclonal antibodies.