Feline immunodeficiency virus subtype C is prevalent in northern part of Taiwan

The seroepidemiological survey of cats conducted in northern part of Taiwan in 1998 revealed that the positive rate of feline immunodeficiency virus ( FIV)-infection was 21.9% (7/32) and the rate was much higher than those of previous reports. We succeeded in isolation of three strains of FIV from pe ripheral blood mononuclear cells of the blood samples. Nucleotide sequences of the env variable V3 to V5 region of the strains revealed that the isola tes from distinct areas belong to subtype C. These data together with our p revious report (Inada et al. 1997. Arch. Virol., 142: 1459-1467) indicate t hat FIV subtype C is prevalent in northern part of Taiwan.