GENETIC-HETEROGENEITY OF ENV GENE OF FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS OBTAINED FROM MULTIPLE DISTRICTS IN JAPAN

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is widespread in many co untries. FIV isolates have been classified into five distinct subtypes , A, B, C, D and E based on their env gene sequences. Several reports indicate that most of the FIVs isolated in Japan belong to subtype B w hich includes the first Japanese isolate, TM2 strain. To examine the d istribution of FIV subtypes in Japan, proviral DNA sequences of the en v gene were directly amplified by nested PCR from FIV-infected cats th at had been kept in multiple districts throughout Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of the 11 strains showed that four FIV subtypes, A, B, C and D, were present in Japan. Among these subtypes, subtypes B and D were the two most common subtypes in Japan, and they were mainly distribute d in the eastern and western parts of Japan, respectively. The present study provides information that is fundamental for development of a v accine to protect against FIV infection in cats. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.