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To better understand the prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus in cat shelters, an epidemiological study was conducted in an intermunicipal shelter in the Northeast Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were collected as part of routine plan for control and monitoring of infectious diseases in cats at lntermunicipal Official Shelter. This shelter houses stray cats from the five municipalities of Terra Quente Transmontana, which has permanent veterinary medical and nursing assistance with daily exams, identification, registration, vaccination, deworming and neutering procedures. Blood samples were collected during periodic checks carried out by the veterinarian in charge of the shelter, from May 2017 to January 2021. A total of 1 71 samples were collected from stray cats housed at this shelter, that serves: Alf§.ndega da Fe, Carrazeda de Ansiaes, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela and Vila Flor. A blood sample was collected individually from each cat during medical routine check-ups. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein. To diagnose FIV and FeLV, a kit based on immunochromatographic technique (Uranotest® FeLVFIV, Urano®vet, S.L, Barcelona, Spain) was used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. This test allows simultaneously qualitative detection of FIV antibody (gp40) and FeLV antigen (p27) in feline whole blood, serum, and plasma. The Uranotest® FeLV-FIV reported a sensitivity of 94% versus viral isolation and specificity of 99% versus viral isolation, for Fe LV, and a sensitivity of 96% versus Western Blot and a specificity of 98% versus Western Blot, for FIV. RESULTS: A total of 171 stray cats in the lntermunicipal Official Shelter were tested during the study period. The sample consisted of 102 females (60%) and 69 males (40%). The overall prevalence of FIV and FeLV was 13.45% (23/171, 95% Cl: 9.13-19.37%) of the cats tested. The proportion of cats positive to FIV, FeLV and to both FIV and FeLV was 9.36% (16/171, 95% Cl: 5.84-14.66%), 1.75% (3/171, 95% Cl: 0.60-5.03%) and 2.34% (41171, 95% Cl: 0.91-5.86%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the overall seroprevalence of FIV and FeLV in stray cats entering the lntermunicipal Official Shelter was very high and risk factors associated to seroprevalence need to be study in further studies. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
