Felid herpesvirus 1 (FHV 1) carriers among urban breeding facilities in Wroclaw (Poland).

Abstract

The prevalence of Felid herpesvirus 1 (FHV 1) carriers among closed, one-cat breeding facilities in the urban environment of Wrocław city between 2011-2013 was investigated. A probe-based real-time PCR was used to detect FHV 1 DNA in conjunctival swab extracts. Of the 67 breeding cats investigated 14 animals (20.9%) were confirmed to contain FHV 1 specific DNA. The herpesvirus DNA was detected in eight cats from the group expressing clinical signs of FHV 1 infection (n = 28) and in six clinically healthy animals (n = 39). The percentage of positive carriers ranged from 12 to 44%, depending on the frequency of sampling. The total prevalence in cats at the optimal age for reproduction (2 to 7 years) was 20%. One-cat breeding facilities of purebred cats in Wrocław (Poland) constitute a significant reservoir of FHV 1 and the number of monitoring repeats may influences the success of FHV 1 detection.