Method and Device for Detecting Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

A method and device for determining a feline immunodeficiency virus infection or vaccination in an animal. The method includes contacting a biological sample from a felid with various FIV polypeptides and determining the binding of antibodies in the sample to the polypeptides. The determination of whether an animal is infected with FIV or has been vaccinated against FIV can be determined by measuring the animal's immune response to an FIV env polypeptide. A device for detecting FIV antibodies is provided.

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         2 . A method of distinguishing between animals that have been naturally infected with FIV and animals that have not been infected or have been vaccinated against an HIV infection, the method comprising:
 contacting a biological sample from an animal with a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1;   detecting whether FIV antibodies in the sample substantially bind to the polypeptide;   determining that the animal is naturally infected by detecting that antibodies in the sample substantially bind to the FIV polypeptide and determining that the animal has been vaccinated or not infected by detecting that antibodies in the sample do not substantially bind to the FIV polypeptide.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the biological sample is obtained from an animal that has not received an FIV vaccine within about the prior 12 weeks. 
     
     
         4 . A method of determining whether a felid has been vaccinated against FIV or is naturally infected with FIV, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting, before a period a time following vaccination sufficient for antibodies that are not a significant component of the animal's immune response to an FIV vaccine to be substantially eliminated from the felid, whether the felid has antibodies against an FIV peptide of SEQ ID NO:1;   (b) detecting, after a period a time following vaccination sufficient for antibodies that are not a significant component of an animal's immune response to the vaccine to be substantially eliminated from the felid, whether the felid has antibodies against the FIV polypeptide;   (c) determining that the felid has been successfully vaccinated by detecting antibodies in step a but not in step b, and   (d) determining that the felid is naturally infected by detecting antibodies in steps a and b.   
     
     
         5 . A method of determining whether a felid has not been infected by FIV or has been vaccinated against FIV, the method comprising:
 analyzing a biological sample from the felid to detect the presence or absence of antibodies against an FIV peptide of SEQ ID NO:1; and   determining that the animal has not been infected or has been or vaccinated by determining the absence of such antibodies.   
     
     
         6 . A method of determining whether or not a felid has been vaccinated against FIV or naturally infected with FIV comprising:
 providing a test device comprising a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1;   obtaining a biological sample from a felid;   running the biological sample on the test device so that the sample contacts the polypeptide; and   reading the test device, wherein a positive result indicates the cat has been naturally infected with FIV or vaccinated against FIV and wherein a negative result indicates the cat has not been naturally infected with FIV and not vaccinated against FIV.   
     
     
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         13 . A method for determining whether a felid has been vaccinated against FIV or is naturally infected with FIV, the method comprising
 (a) contacting a biological sample with the diagnostic device comprising a dry porous carrier, a first detection reagent immobilized on the porous carrier, said first detection reagent comprising a protein that captures FIV antibodies generated by an animal in response to either a natural HIV infection or an FIV vaccination, and a second detection reagent immobilized on the porous carrier, said second detection reagent comprising the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1; and   (b) detecting whether antibodies in the sample substantially bind one or both of the first detection reagent and the second detection reagent.   
     
     
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         17 . A method of determining the vaccination status of a felid comprising:
 providing the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1;   contacting a biological sample from a felid with the polypeptide to form a polypeptide/antibody complex; and   determining the presence or absence of the polypeptide/antibody complex, wherein the presence of the complex represents natural infection and the absence of the complex represents either vaccination or no infection.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the biological sample is obtained from an animal that has not received an FIV vaccine within about the prior 12 weeks. 
     
     
         19 . A method of determining whether a felid has been vaccinated against FIV or is naturally infected with FIV comprising determining the felid's immune response to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
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