TRANSMISSION OF FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN DOMESTIC CATS VIA ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION

The objective of this study was to determine whether semen from male d omestic cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can tra nsmit virus to females, Twelve inseminations were pel formed by an int rauterine laparoscopic technique with fresh or cryopreserved electroej aculates from asymptomatic males chronically infected with the NCSU1 s train of FIV. Of sis inseminations performed with fresh semen, three r esulted in infection of queens, as indicated by seroconversion, expres sion of FIV gag provirus in peripheral blood leukocytes, and reduced p eripheral CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocyte ratios. None of the six inseminat es with thawed cryopreserved semen resulted in infection. Two infected queens and one uninfected queen became pregnant. Virus was not eviden t in the seven offspring. We conclude that FIV can be transmitted hori zontally by artificial insemination with fresh semen.