Koala retrovirus is a recently endogenized retrovirus associated with the onset of neoplasia and infectious disease in koalas. There are currently twelve described KoRV subtypes (KoRV-A to I, K-M), most of which were identified through recently implemented deep sequencing methods which reveal an animals\' overall KoRV profile. This approach has primarily been carried out on wild koala populations around Australia, with few investigations into the whole-population KoRV profile of captive koala colonies to date. This study conducted deep sequencing on 64 captive koalas of known pedigree, housed in three institutions from New South Wales and South-East Queensland, to provide a detailed analysis of KoRV genetic diversity and transmission. The final dataset included 93 unique KoRV sequences and the first detection of KoRV-E within Australian koala populations. Our analysis suggests that exogenous transmission of KoRV-A, B, D, I and K primarily occurs between dam and joey. Detection of KoRV-D in a neonate sample raises the possibility of this transmission occurring in utero. Overall, the prevalence and abundance of KoRV subtypes was found to vary considerably between captive populations, likely due to their different histories of animal acquisition. Together these findings highlight the importance of KoRV profiling for captive koalas, in particular females, who play a primary role in KoRV exogenous transmission.

The relationship between blood group antigens and disease has been studied in humans. Blood types have been associated with both decreased and increased rates of various infections. In addition, blood group expression has been shown to vary with some cancers and gastrointestinal diseases. The objective of this study was to explore whether there is a relationship between blood type and retroviral infections in cats.
Case records from a veterinary research laboratory, veterinary teaching hospitals and veterinary blood banks were retrospectively searched for cats where both blood type and retroviral status (feline leukemia [FeLV], feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV] or both) were listed (part 1). In addition, a sample of 33 cats with confirmed FIV infection was genotyped to determine blood groups (part 2).
In part 1, 709 cats were identified, 119 of which were positive for retroviral infection. Among all cases, 621 were type A (87.6%), 68 were type B (9.6%) and 20 were type AB (2.8%). There was no relationship between overall retroviral status (positive/negative) and blood type (P = 0.43), between FeLV status and blood type (P = 0.86) or between FIV status and blood type (P = 0.94). There was no difference in the distribution of blood types between cats that were healthy and typed as possible blood donors vs sick cats that were typed prior to a possible transfusion (P = 0.13). In part 2, of the 33 FIV-infected cats, all blood group genotypes were identified, although this test did not discriminate type A from type AB.
No relationship was identified between feline retroviral status and blood type in this study. The relationship between blood type and other disease states requires further study in veterinary patients.

Zoonotic simian foamy viruses (SFVs) establish persistent infections in humans, for whom the long-term consequences for health are poorly described. In this study, we aimed to characterize blood-cell phenotypes and plasma biomarkers associated with gorilla SFV infection in humans.
We used a case-control design to compare 15 Cameroonian hunters infected with gorilla SFV (cases) to 15 controls matched for age and ethnicity. A flow cytometry-based phenotypic study and quantification of plasma immune biomarkers were carried out on blood samples from all participants. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare cases and controls.
Cases had a significantly higher percentage of CD8 T lymphocytes than controls (median, 17.6% vs 13.7%; P = .03) but similar levels of B, natural killer, and CD4 T lymphocytes. Cases also had a lower proportion of recent CD4 thymic emigrants (10.9% vs 18.6%, P = .05), a higher proportion of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) expressing memory CD4 T lymphocytes (31.7% vs 24.7%, P = .01), and higher plasma levels of the soluble CD163 scavenger receptor (0.84 vs .59 µg/mL, P = .003) than controls.
We show, for the first time, that chronic infection with SFV is associated with T lymphocyte differentiation and monocyte activation.

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus associated with fatal disease in progressively infected cats. While testing/removal and vaccination led to a decreased prevalence of FeLV, recently, this decrease has reportedly stagnated in some countries. This study aimed to prospectively determine the prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats taken to veterinary facilities in 32 European countries. FeLV viral RNA was semiquantitatively detected in saliva, using RT-qPCR as a measure of viraemia. Risk and protective factors were assessed using an online questionnaire to report geographic, demographic, husbandry, FeLV vaccination, and clinical data. The overall prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats visiting a veterinary facility, of which 10.4% were shelter and rescue cats, was 2.3% (141/6005; 95% CI: 2.0%-2.8%) with the highest prevalences in Portugal, Hungary, and Italy/Malta (5.7%-8.8%). Using multivariate analysis, seven risk factors (Southern Europe, male intact, 1-6 years of age, indoor and outdoor or outdoor-only living, living in a group of ≥5 cats, illness), and three protective factors (Northern Europe, Western Europe, pedigree cats) were identified. Using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis, the origin of cats in Europe, pedigree, and access to outdoors were important predictors of FeLV status. FeLV-infected sick cats shed more viral RNA than FeLV-infected healthy cats, and they suffered more frequently from anaemia, anorexia, and gingivitis/stomatitis than uninfected sick cats. Most cats had never been FeLV-vaccinated; vaccination rates were indirectly associated with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In conclusion, we identified countries where FeLV was undetectable, demonstrating that the infection can be eradicated and highlighting those regions where awareness and prevention should be increased.

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Currently, there are only a few studies on how immunocompromised cats, such as cats infected with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), respond to vaccination. Therefore, this study measured feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) antibodies in retrovirus-infected cats within a period of 28 days after FPV vaccination, and compared the immune response to that of non-infected cats.
Eight asymptomatic retrovirus-infected cats (four FeLV, four FIV), and non-infected age-matched control cats (n = 67) were vaccinated with a commercial FPV modified live virus (MLV). Pre- and post-vaccination antibody titres were measured by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) on days 0, 7 and 28. An HI titre ⩾1:40 was defined as protective. An adequate response to vaccination was defined as a four-fold titre increase or higher. Comparison of the immune response of retrovirus-infected and non-infected cats was performed.
Pre-vaccination FPV antibody titres ⩾1:40 were present in 100% (n = 8/8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 62.8-100) of retrovirus-infected and in 77.6% (n = 52/67; 95% CI 66.2-86.0) of non-infected cats. An adequate response to vaccination (titre increase ⩾four-fold) was seen in 1/8 retrovirus-infected cats (12.5%; 95% CI 0.1-49.2) compared with 22/67 non-infected cats (32.8%; 95% CI 22.8-44.8). In cats with high pre-vaccination titres (⩾1:160), a four-fold titre increase or higher was observed in 1/8 retrovirus infected cats (12.5%; 95% CI 0.1-49.2) compared with 4/42 non-infected cats (9.5%; 95% CI 3.2-22.6). None of the eight retrovirus-infected cats developed illness or vaccination side effects after vaccination with MLV against FPV within the 28 days. There were no significant differences between groups: for pre-vaccination titres; for at least four-fold titre increases following vaccination in either all cats or the cats with high pre-vaccination titres; and concerning adverse effects.
All retrovirus-infected asymptomatic cats had pre-vaccination FPV antibodies indicating protection against panleukopenia. Response of retrovirus-infected cats to vaccination was similar to the response of non-infected cats.

A spillover of simian foamy virus (SFV) to humans, following bites from infected nonhuman primates (NHPs), is ongoing in exposed populations. These retroviruses establish persistent infections of unknown physiological consequences to the human host.
We performed a case-control study to compare 24 Cameroonian hunters infected with gorilla SFV and 24 controls matched for age and ethnicity. A complete physical examination and blood test were performed for all participants. Logistic regression and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare cases and controls.
The cases had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin than the controls (median, 12.7 vs 14.4 g/dL; P = .01). Basophil levels were also significantly lower in cases than controls, with no differences for other leukocyte subsets. Cases had significantly higher urea, creatinine, protein, creatinine phosphokinase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels and lower bilirubin levels than controls. Cases and controls had similar frequencies of general, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory signs.
The first case-control study of apparently healthy SFV-infected Cameroonian hunters showed the presence of hematological abnormalities. A thorough clinical and laboratory workup is now needed to establish the medical relevance of these observations because more than half of cases had mild or moderate anemia.
NCT03225794.

BACKGROUND: Feline infectious agent studies are lacking in Cyprus. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for various feline infectious agents, including feline vector-borne pathogens (FVBP), in cats from Cyprus.
METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentre study was performed on 174 feline samples [138 owned and 36 shelter-feral, including both healthy (43) and non-healthy (131), cats] from private veterinary clinics from all six districts of Cyprus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were used to detect Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), \"Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum\" (CMhm) and \"Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis\" (CMt). The population was tested for four FVBP including Bartonella henselae and Leishmania spp. using qPCR, while conventional PCR assays were used to detect Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Serological assays were performed to detect Leishmania infantum antibodies, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigen and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies. Statistical analysis was performed to test associations and possible risk factors between variables and infectious agents.
RESULTS: Ninety-six (55.2%) of the 174 cats were PCR-positive for at least one infectious agent. Forty-six cats (26.4%) were haemoplasma positive, including 13 (7.5%) for Mhf, 36 (20.7%) for CMhm and 12 (6.9%) for CMt. Sixty-six cats (37.9%) were positive for Hepatozoon spp., while 19 (10.9%) were positive for B. henselae, four (2.3%) for Leishmania spp. and one (0.6%) for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. Sequencing revealed the presence of Hepatozoon felis, L. infantum and Anaplasma platys. Of the 164 cats that underwent retroviral serology, 10 (6.1%) were FeLV-positive and 31 (18.9%) were FIV-positive, while L. infantum serology was positive in 7 (4.4%) of the 160 cats tested. Multivariable logistic regression revealed significant associations for various infectious agents including L. infantum with each of Hepatozoon spp. and CMt infection.
CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of infectious agents was found in cats from Cyprus with Mhf, CMhm, CMt, L. infantum, B. henselae, H. felis, A. platys, FeLV and FIV infections reported for the first time. The significant associations between different pathogens provide a better understanding of similarities in the epidemiology of these pathogens and interactions between them.

BACKGROUND Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by skin fibrosis. UVA1 phototherapy is an important asset in the reduction of clinical manifestations in morphea. There are studies claiming that UV light modulates the expression of some human endogenous retroviral sequences. The aim of this study was to determine if the expression of HERV-K10 gag element is lowered by UVA1 phototherapy in morphea, a disease in which such irradiation has a soothing effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression levels of the HERV-K10 gag were assessed by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and skin-punch biopsies of healthy volunteers and 9 morphea patients before and after phototherapy. Additionally, correlations between the HERV-K10 gag expression and age, disease duration, the Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index (LoSSI), and antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers were assessed. RESULTS In PBMC, HERV-K10 gag mRNA was significantly elevated after UVA1 phototherapy compared to healthy controls. Most of the patients responded with an increased expression level of this sequence. However, we found no statistical evidence at this point that phototherapy indeed has an effect on the HERV-K10 gag expression (there were no statistical differences in PBMC of morphea patients before and after phototherapy). Similarly, there was no statistically relevant effect of the UVA1 on the expression of HERV-K10 gag in skin. CONCLUSIONS At this point, the effect of UVA1 phototherapy on the expression of HERV-K10 gag cannot be statistically confirmed.

Xenotransplantation of pig islet cells is a promising alternative for the treatment of diabetes with insulin and may help to prevent numerous late complications such as blindness and amputation. First encouraging results using porcine islets have been reported in preclinical animal models as well in the first clinical trial in New Zealand. The goal of this manuscript is to examine the biological safety of a second trial performed in Argentina, specifically in regards to the transmission of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) using improved detection methods As in the first trial encapsulated islet cells from the well-characterised Auckland Island pigs were used. The animals were not genetically modified. The islet cells were transplanted in eight human recipients using a modified clinical protocol. Sera taken at different time points after transplantation (up to 55 weeks) were screened for the presence of antibodies against PERV proteins by Western blot analysis using viral antigens from highly purified virus particles. Positive sera obtained by immunization with recombinant PERV proteins were used as control sera. In none of the patients antibodies against PERV were detected, indicating the absence of infection. In parallel at different time points (up to 113 weeks) white blood cells (WBC) have been tested for PERV DNA, and WBC and plasma for PERV RNA by real-time RT-PCR. All tests were negative. In addition, using primers detecting pig mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX) gene, patients were screened for microchimerism. In summary, the data are further evidence for the safety of pig islet cell transplantation.