Lentiviral latency in peripheral CD4+ T cells isolated from feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats during the asymptomatic phase is not associated with hypermethylation of the proviral promoter

► Experimentally feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats establish an undetectable viremia during the asymptomatic phase of infection. ► Infected cats demonstrate a persistent inversion of their peripheral CD4/CD8 T cell ratio with no apparent clinical consequences. ► FIV latency in peripheral CD4+ T cells is apparently not associated with hypermethylation of the proviral promoter.