Open Access
Research (Published online: 24-08-2023)
18. Feline calicivirus and natural killer cells: A study of its relationship in chronic gingivostomatitis
Ana C. Fontes, Maria C. Vieira, Marcela Oliveira, Lígia Lourenço, Carlos Viegas, Pedro Faísca, Fernanda Seixas, João F. Requicha, and Maria A. Pires
Veterinary World, 16(8): 1708-1713

Ana C. Fontes: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Maria C. Vieira: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Marcela Oliveira: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Lígia Lourenço: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Carlos Viegas: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV) and AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
Pedro Faísca: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Research Centre for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Lusófona University, Lisboa, Portugal; DNAtech, Lisboa, Portugal.
Fernanda Seixas: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV) and AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
João F. Requicha: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV) and AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
Maria A. Pires: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV) and AL4AnimalS, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1708-1713

Article history: Received: 08-04-2023, Accepted: 04-08-2023, Published online: 24-08-2023

Corresponding author: João F. Requicha

E-mail: jfrequicha@utad.pt

Citation: Fontes AC, Vieira MC, Oliveira M, Lourenço L, Viegas C, Faísca P, Seixas F, Requicha JF, and Pires MA (2023) Feline calicivirus and natural killer cells: A study of its relationship in chronic gingivostomatitis, Veterinary World, 16(8): 1708-1713.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a frequent chronic inflammatory condition in the oral cavity with an etiopathogenesis not completely identified. This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of FCGS by identifying the presence of feline calicivirus (FCV) antigens and natural killer (NK) cells and comparing them.

Materials and Methods: Forty biopsies from the oral mucosa of cats diagnosed with chronic gingivostomatitis were subjected to immunohistochemical techniques to evaluate cells with FCV antigens and NK cells positive for CD56.

Results: NK cells were identified in all samples, with an average of 725.3 ± 409.1 cells. Regarding FCV, it was identified in 18 out of 30 samples (60%), with a different number of cells with virus in between the analyzed cases. In all cases, the number of cells infected with FCV was lower than the number of NK cells present in the same samples, but there was no statistical association between them.

Conclusion: This preliminary study shows that NK cells are present in gingivostomatitis lesions not exclusively caused by FCV-stimulus, as only 60% of all cases were positive for this virus, but other antigens should be considered in the etiology of FCGS.

Keywords: feline calicivirus, feline chronic gingivostomatitis, immunohistochemistry, natural killer cells.