Diesel Laura Pancich, de Mello Lauren Santos, de Oliveira Santana Weslei, Ikuta Nilo, Fonseca André Salvador Kazantzi, Kipper Diéssy, Redaelli Raquel, Pereira Vagner Reinaldo Zingali Bueno, Streck André Felipe, Lunge Vagner Ricardo
Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory (LDMV), Institute of Biotechnology (IB), Postgraduate Programs in Animal Health (PPGSA) and Biotechnology (PPGBIO), University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul 95070-560, RS, Brazil.
Simbios Biotechnologia, Cachoeirinha 94950-000, RS, Brazil.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Mar 29;14(7):1051. doi: 10.3390/ani14071051.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus distributed worldwide in domestic cats and with different outcomes (progressive, regressive, abortive, focal). The present study reports an epidemiological survey of FeLV frequency and the evaluation of some risk factors and the two main disease outcomes (progressive and regressive) in an urban cat population from Brazil. A total of 366 cats with sociodemographic information and p27 FeLV antigen test performed were included in the study. FeLV DNA (provirus) in the blood samples of all cats was detected via real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Plasma samples from 109 FeLV-positive and FeLV-negative cats were also submitted to reverse transcription (RT-qPCR) to determine the FeLV viral load. The results demonstrated that 112 (30.6%) cats were positive through the p27 antigen and/or qPCR. A risk factor analysis demonstrated that cats without vaccination against FeLV (OR 9.9, < 0.001), clinically ill (OR 2.9, < 0.001), with outdoors access (OR 2.7, < 0.001), and exhibiting apathetic behavior (OR 3.1, < 0.001) were more likely to be infected with FeLV. FeLV-infected cats were also more likely to present with anemia (OR 13, < 0.001) and lymphoma (OR 13.7, = 0.001). A comparative analysis of the different detection methods in a subset of 109 animals confirmed FeLV infection in 58 cats, including 38 (65.5%) with progressive, 16 (27.6%) with regressive, and 4 (6.9%) with probably focal outcome diseases. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a high prevalence of FeLV in this urban cat population from Brazil and highlights the need to establish more effective prevention strategies (such as viral testing, vaccination programs, specific care for FeLV-positive cats) to reduce diseases associated with this virus in Brazil.
猫白血病病毒（FeLV）是一种逆转录病毒，在全球范围内的家猫中均有分布，且会导致不同的结果（进行性、退行性、顿挫性、局灶性）。本研究报告了对巴西一个城市猫群中FeLV感染频率的流行病学调查，以及对一些风险因素和两种主要疾病结果（进行性和退行性）的评估。共有366只具有社会人口统计学信息且进行了p27 FeLV抗原检测的猫被纳入研究。通过实时聚合酶链反应（qPCR）检测所有猫血液样本中的FeLV DNA（前病毒）。还对109只FeLV阳性和FeLV阴性猫的血浆样本进行逆转录（RT-qPCR）以确定FeLV病毒载量。结果表明，112只（30.6%）猫通过p27抗原和/或qPCR检测呈阳性。风险因素分析表明，未接种FeLV疫苗的猫（比值比9.9，<0.001）、临床患病的猫（比值比2.9，<0.001）、有户外接触机会的猫（比值比2.7，<0.001）以及表现出冷漠行为的猫（比值比3.1，<0.001）感染FeLV的可能性更高。感染FeLV的猫也更有可能出现贫血（比值比13，<0.001）和淋巴瘤（比值比13.7，=0.001）。对109只动物的一个子集进行不同检测方法的比较分析，确认58只猫感染了FeLV，其中38只（65.5%）患有进行性疾病，16只（27.6%）患有退行性疾病，4只（6.9%）可能患有局灶性疾病。总之，本研究表明巴西这个城市猫群中FeLV的患病率很高，并强调需要制定更有效的预防策略（如病毒检测、疫苗接种计划、对FeLV阳性猫的特殊护理）以减少巴西与该病毒相关的疾病。
