El gat com a model animal per a l'estudi de la síndrome d'immunodeficiència adquirida (SIDA): estudi neuropatològic comparat

Study objective: Comparative study of neuropathological findings observed in cats infected by the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), with those presented in humans infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The use of cat as animal model for human AIDS. Design: histopathological study of infected animals along three years. Setting: feline population of Barcelona's area. Patients: seropositive cats for FIV, specially those with neurological signs. Interventions: collection of animals from the veterinary clinics; complete necropsy, collection of central and peripheral nervous tissue samples and storage of them. Measurements: complete histopathological study; immunocytochemical techniques, "in situ" hybridization and Electron Microscopy.