Objectives

To study and compare the lymphocyte profile of 20 normal cats with FIV infected cats.

Materials & Methods

The study of feline lymphocyte subpopulation profile was established using a whole blood lysis technique followed by flow cytometric analysis.

Results

This study showed that cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus had altered CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell numbers compared to those observed in normal cats. In FIV positive cat, the % CD4⁺ cells decreased significantly (p<0.001). However, the CD8⁺ cells in FIV positive cats increased significantly (p<0.05). The CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ ratios was reduced significantly to 0.570 ± 0.341, compare with 1.610 ± 0.654 in normal cats (p<0.001). Gender did not effect the CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ ratios between normal and FIV cats. Moreover, the CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ ratios between FIV cats in asymptomatic stage and AIDS related complex were not statistically different.

Conclusion

Cats with FIV had lower CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/ CD8⁺ ratios when compared with normal cats.