Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common are feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses in owned
By Ortega-Pacheco, Antonio et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2014·Department of Animal Health and Preventative Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seroprevalence of feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and heartworm infection among owned cats in tropical Mexico.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study of 227 pet cats in Merida, Mexico, found that 7.5% tested positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV), while only 2.5% had feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and none showed signs of heartworm infection. Adult cats were more likely to be infected with FeLV compared to younger cats. The overall rates of these infections were low, suggesting that while FeLV and FIV are present, heartworm is likely not a concern in this area. If you're worried about your cat's health, it's a good idea to discuss testing for these viruses with your veterinarian.
People also search for: cat leukemia symptoms · FIV in cats treatment · heartworm prevention for cats
Abstract
Several infectious agents may be distributed within a healthy population of cats where diverse risk factors predispose them to come into contact with pathogens. Blood samples from 227 owned cats in Merida, Mexico, were collected with the objective of determining the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody. Serological detection of FeLV and D immitis antigens, and FIV antibodies was performed using the commercial kit SNAP Feline Triple Test. The prevalence was found to be 7.5% for FeLV, 2.5% for FIV and 0% for D immitis. Adult cats were at a higher risk of coming into contact with FeLV (P <0.01) than younger cats. Owing to its low prevalence, a risk factor analysis was not performed for FIV. The prevalence of retroviral infections found in this study was low, but within the limits reported in the different geographical areas of the world. Cases of filariosis in the domestic cats of Merida, Mexico, may be absent or very low; however, the low sample size may have influenced these results.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24196568/