Document Type	Master's Dissertation
Author	Kashwantale, Eulalie
Email	s2742161@tuks.co.za
URN	etd-03022010-122006
Document Title	Genetic, antigenetic and phenotypic comparison of herpesviruses isolated from domestic and wild fields
Degree	MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases)
Department	Veterinary Tropical Diseases
Supervisor	Advisor Name Title Prof E H Venter Co-Supervisor Prof M van Vuuren Supervisor
Keywords	virus domestic cat herpesviruses South Africa lions
Date	2009-11-27
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Feline herpesviruses are endemic in free-ranging lions in South Africa. Serological surveillance among free-living felids revealed high levels of exposure to the virus. However, clinical disease in wild felids following FHV-1 infection has been only described in captive populations and reported to be similar to that in the domestic cat. To expand the epidemiological understanding of feline herpesviruses in felids and for disease control, three strains of FHV-1 isolated from a domestic cat (Felis catus) a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and an African wild cat (Felis silvestris) have been compared to determine their relatedness. A region of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase gene was amplified in a nested PCR with consensus degenerate primers to confirm the identity of the isolates. The genetic relatedness were investigated by comparing patterns of genomic DNA cleaved with restriction enzymes SalI and KpnI and the DNA fingerprints generated by different RAPD primers. For antigenic relationships, a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies prepared against a vaccine strain used against domestic cats were tested in a microneutralization assay. In addition, the phenotypic characteristics of the isolates were also compared by their ability to produce plaques in CrFK monolayer cell cultures. With restriction enzyme analysis, it was not possible to make a comparison due to lack of digestion of the genomic DNA of the domestic cat isolate. However, the RAPD-PCR revealed that isolates were closely related but distinct from each other. Only two monoclonal antibodies reacted with the wild isolates; an effect similar to a toxic effect on cell was observed with the domestic isolate. No significant differences of plaque production were observed among the trains. This study provides evidence of a closer evolutionary relationship between the three isolates. The results of the relationships based on the genetic and phenotypic characterization agreed well and both indicated that the viruses from the domestic and wild felids are different but have a high degree of similarity. Copyright © 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Kashwantale, E 2009, Genetic, antigenetic and phenotypic comparison of herpesviruses isolated from domestic and wild fields, MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases) dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03022010-122006/ > E10/34/gm
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