Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 55 No. 5, 2024.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.55.5.1
Whisking away the veil: exploring feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus prevalence among shelter cats in Portugal
Paulo Afonso
orcid.org/0000-0001-6390-0194
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal, and Mountain Research Center (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolonia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
Luis Cardoso
orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-7560
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, ECAV, and CECAV, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
Hélder Quintas
orcid.org/0000-0002-6934-1669
; CIMO, IPB, Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolonia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Coelho
orcid.org/0000-0002-7196-4179
; Department of Veterinary Sciences, ECAV, CECAV, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
Sažetak
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) are important pathogens affecting feline hosts worldwide, compromising the health, well-being, quality of life, and lifespan of infected cats. This study explores the prevalence of these viral agents among shelter cats in Portugal, aiming to unravel their complexities and implications. The prevalence of FIV and FeLV was assessed by collecting blood samples (n = 326) from cats during medical routine check-ups at shelter admission and testing them with an immunochromatographic kit. The overall seroprevalence of FIV and FeLV was 15.3% (50/326, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.6–19.7). The proportion of cats positive to FIV, FeLV, and both FIV and FeLV was 9.8% (32/326, 95% CI: 6.8-13.6), 2.1% (7/326, 95% CI: 0.9-4.4) and 3.4% (11/326, 95% CI: 1.7-6.0), respectively. The prevalence of FIV and both FeLV and FIV appeared to be higher in the adult population. No statistical association was found between sex, breed, hair, or municipality, and FeLV, FIV and both FeLV and FIV prevalence. This is the first report on retroviral prevalence in shelter cats in Portugal, which provides important information regarding FIV and FeLV among stray cats in Portugal, highlighting the need for surveillance of those viruses, improved compliance with vaccination programmes, and vigilant management strategies to limit and control these viruses in the feline
population.
Ključne riječi
cats; FeLV; FIV; Portugal; shelter
Hrčak ID:
313942
URI
Datum izdavanja:
9.2.2024.
Posjeta: 270 *