Gates M C, Vigeant S, Dale A
a Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North , 4442 , New Zealand.
b RNZSPCA , PO Box 15-309, New Lynn, Auckland , 0640 , New Zealand.
N Z Vet J. 2017 Nov;65(6):285-291. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2017.1348266. Epub 2017 Jul 24.
AIMS To estimate the prevalence of cats testing positive for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigens in domestic cats entering a New Zealand animal shelter, based on a commercial point-of-care ELISA, to identify risk factors associated with cats testing positive, and to compare the results obtained from the ELISA with those obtained using PCR-based testing. METHOD A cross-sectional study was performed on 388 cats entering the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals animal shelter in Auckland, New Zealand between 7 February 2014 and 30 May 2014. Whole blood samples were collected from each cat and tested for FIV antibody and FeLV antigen using a commercial point-of-care ELISA. Information on the signalment and health status of the cat at the time of entry was also recorded. Blood and saliva samples from a subset of cats were tested for FIV and FeLV proviral DNA using a real-time PCR assay. RESULTS Of the 388 cats in the study sample, 146 (37.6%) had been relinquished by owners, 237 (62.4%) were strays, and 5 (1.3%) were of unknown origin. Overall, 53/388 (13.7%) cats tested positive for FIV antibodies and 4/388 (1.0%) were positive for FeLV antigen. Stray cats had a higher FIV seroprevalence than relinquished cats (42/237 (17.8%) vs. 11/146 (7.5%); p=0.008). Of 53 cats that were FIV-seropositive, 51 (96%) tested positive for FIV proviral DNA using PCR testing of blood. Of these 51 cats, 28 (55%) were positive by PCR testing of saliva. Of the four cats that were FeLV antigen-positive by ELISA, two (50%) were positive for FeLV proviral DNA by PCR testing of blood. The odds of a cat being seropositive for FIV were greater for intact compared to desexed cats (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.6-7.4) and for male compared to female cats (OR=6.5; 95% CI=3.2-14.0). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The seroprevalence for FIV was 14% among cats entering an animal shelter in Auckland, whereas the prevalence of FeLV antigen-positive cats was only 1%. These findings suggest differences in the transmission dynamics of each virus in free-roaming cat populations in New Zealand. Our study also highlights the potential role of desexing cats in reducing transmission of FIV. However, further data from first-opinion veterinary practices are required to confirm that these findings may be generalised to the wider domestic cat population in New Zealand.
基于商业即时检测酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA），评估进入新西兰一家动物收容所的家猫中猫免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）抗体检测呈阳性以及猫白血病病毒（FeLV）抗原检测呈阳性的猫的患病率，确定与检测呈阳性的猫相关的风险因素，并将ELISA检测结果与基于聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测获得的结果进行比较。方法：对2014年2月7日至2014年5月30日期间进入新西兰奥克兰皇家防止虐待动物协会动物收容所的388只猫进行了一项横断面研究。从每只猫采集全血样本，使用商业即时检测ELISA检测FIV抗体和FeLV抗原。还记录了猫进入时的特征和健康状况信息。使用实时PCR检测法对一部分猫的血液和唾液样本进行FIV和FeLV前病毒DNA检测。结果：在研究样本的388只猫中，146只（37.6%）被主人遗弃，237只（62.4%）为流浪猫，5只（1.3%）来源不明。总体而言，388只猫中有53只（13.7%）FIV抗体检测呈阳性，4只（1.0%）FeLV抗原检测呈阳性。流浪猫FIV血清阳性率高于被遗弃的猫（237只中有42只（17.8%）对146只中有11只（7.5%）；p = 0.008）。在53只FIV血清阳性的猫中，51只（96%）通过血液PCR检测FIV前病毒DNA呈阳性。在这51只猫中，28只（55%）唾液PCR检测呈阳性。在ELISA检测FeLV抗原呈阳性的4只猫中，2只（50%）通过血液PCR检测FeLV前病毒DNA呈阳性。与已绝育的猫相比，未绝育的猫FIV血清阳性的几率更高（比值比（OR）= 3.3；95%置信区间（CI）= 1.6 - 7.4），与母猫相比，公猫FIV血清阳性的几率更高（OR = 6.5；95% CI = 3.2 - 14.0）。结论及临床意义：在进入奥克兰一家动物收容所的猫中，FIV血清阳性率为14%，而FeLV抗原阳性猫的患病率仅为1%。这些发现表明新西兰自由放养猫群体中每种病毒的传播动态存在差异。我们的研究还强调了给猫绝育在减少FIV传播方面的潜在作用。然而，需要来自初诊兽医诊所的进一步数据来证实这些发现是否可以推广到新西兰更广泛的家猫群体。
