Prevalence, haematological, biochemical abnormalities and clinical syndromes of FeLV and FeLV/FIV co-infection among cat population in Moscow and the Moscow region, Russia

Abstract

The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the prevalence of FeLV and co-infection with FeLV and FIV among feline population of Moscow and the Moscow region, Russia, to determine the risk factors associated with the disease and to describe the clinical syndromes, haematological and biochemical abnormalities in infected cats. The prevalence of FeLV and FeLV+FIV co-infection was investigated among 11,807 cats living in Moscow and the Moscow region using PCR, ELISA and ICT methods. The overall prevalence of FeLV among household domestic cats was 12.8%. FeLV was most commonly detected in male mixed-breed cats and the cats with free outdoor access. Ninety cases of co-infection with FeLV and FIV (0.76% of the cat population) were also detected. The most common clinical signs seen in infected cats were those associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Anaemia was a common haematological abnormality in infected cats. The results of biochemical assays were nonspecific and associated with inflammatory processes in infected cats. The risk factors associated with FeLV infection were sex, breed, age, contacts with other cats and a history of outdoor access. The results presented in the study indicated a high prevalence of FeLV and a low prevalence of FeLV+FIV co-infection in cats living in Moscow and the Moscow region, Russia.