FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS REPLICATES IN SALIVARY-GLAND DUCTULAR EPITHELIUM DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF INFECTION

Feline immunodeficiency virus(FIV) antigen was detected by immunochemi stry in salivary glands of cats experimentally inoculated with West Au stralian isolate T91. Six cats were inoculated subcutaneously with 1.0 ml of tissue culture supernatant fluid from a feline T-lymphoblastoid cell line (MYA-1) infected with T91. FIV antigens were detected in th e interlobular ducts of the salivary gland of cats infected with FIV 2 , 4 and 6 weeks previously. FIV antigen was not detected in the saliva ry glands of three FIV negative cats and one naturally infected cat. F urther, FIV antigen was located only in interlobular duct epithelial c ells. The distribution of FIV in the interlobular ducts confirms the i mportant role of salivary glands as a major reservoir of FIV in the ea rly phase of infection and strengthens suggestions that the salivary r oute is an important mode of transmission of FIV.