FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS CAN BE EXPERIMENTALLY TRANSMITTED VIA MILK DURING ACUTE MATERNAL INFECTION

Postnatal transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in neona tes nursed by acutely infected mothers and infection resulting from or al inoculation of kittens with FIV were evaluated. Ten of 16 kittens n ursed by four queens with FIV infection established immediately postpa rtum developed FIV infection. Five of 11 neonates orally administered cell-free FIV culture supernatant developed FIV infection. Kittens tha t developed FIV infection had greater proportions of CD4(+) and Pan-T lymphocytes at birth than negative kittens. Infectious virus was reco vered from the milk of acutely infected mothers. We conclude that FIV may be experimentally transmitted via milk from queens with acute infe ctions and that oral administration of FIV to neonatal kittens results in infection.