Seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus and Toxoplasma gondii in stray cat colonies in northern Italy and correlation with clinical and laboratory data
- 8 February 2012
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
- Vol. 14 (6), 369-377
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x12437352
Abstract
Stray cat colonies in urban and rural areas of Lombardy, northern Italy, were surveyed for seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigen and Toxoplasma gondii IgG. Of 316 cats tested, 6.6% were positive for FIV and 3.8% were positive for FeLV infection; 203 cats were tested for T gondii IgG antibodies and a prevalence of 30.5% was detected. Statistical analysis tested the influence of provenience, age, gender, health status and laboratory results on seroprevalence and found male gender and adult age were risk factors for FIV infection. FIV-infected cats were more likely to have a decreased red blood cell count than FIV seronegative cats. No predictors were significantly associated with FeLV and T gondii seropositivity. Colony cats in this study posed a limited risk for retrovirus infection to pet cats allowed outdoors, whereas toxoplasmosis exposure was comparable with the worldwide data.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Survey of infectious and parasitic diseases in stray cats at the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, PortugalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2010
- 2008 American Association of Feline Practitioners' feline retrovirus management guidelinesJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2008
- Parasitological Survey on Stray Cat Colonies from the Veneto RegionVeterinary Research Communications, 2007
- Seroprevalence of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection among cats in North America and risk factors for seropositivityJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2006
- Prevalence of infectious diseases in feral cats in Northern FloridaJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2004
- Serological surveyToxoplasma gondiiof a on feline immunodeficiency virus and feine leukaemia virus in urban stray cats in BelgiumVeterinary Record, 2002
- Prevalence of feline leukemia virus infection and serum antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus in unowned free-roaming catsJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002
- A serological survey of feline immunodeficiency virus and Toxoplasma gondii in stray cats.Veterinary Research Communications, 1997
- Seroepidemiological and clinical survey of feline immunodeficiency virus infection in northern ItalyVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 1994
- A Survey of FIV Antibodies and FeLV Antigens in Free-roaming Cats in the Capital Area of FinlandActa Veterinaria Scandinavica, 1992