Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses in cats with symptoms
By Acevedo-Jiménez, Gabriel Eduardo et al.·Published in Archives of virology·2022·Faculty of Higher Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection and genetic characterization of feline retroviruses in domestic cats with different clinical signs and hematological alterations.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of domestic cats in Mexico showed various health issues, and testing revealed the presence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in some of them. Out of 50 cats, 13 had exogenous FeLV, while 10 were found to have FIV. All cats tested positive for an endogenous form of FeLV, which is common in the species. The study highlights the importance of testing for these viruses, as they can lead to serious health problems in cats. Treatment options may include supportive care and managing symptoms, but the presence of these viruses can significantly affect a cat's health and longevity.
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Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are globally distributed retroviruses that infect domestic cats and cause various syndromes that can lead to death. The aim of this study was to detect and genotype feline retroviruses in Mexican domestic cats. We used PCR assays to identify proviral DNA and viral RNA in 50 domestic cats with different clinical signs and hematological alterations. Endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) was identified in the genomic DNA of all cats in the study, and we detected transcripts of the LTR region of enFeLV in 48 individuals. Exogenous FeLV (exFeLV) was found in 13 cats. Furthermore, we detected FIV proviral DNA in 10 cats. The enFeLV sequences were shown to be the most variable, while the exFeLV sequences were highly conserved and related to previously reported subgroup A sequences. Sequencing of the FIV gag gene revealed the presence of subtype B in the infected cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36534205/