Domestic Feline Retroviruses in Environmental Protection Area - Jericoacoara National Park, Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are retroviruses with a worldwide distribution and great impact on the health of domestic cats. The Jericoacoara National Park is a region of environmental protection, in the State of Ceará, and contains the Jericoacoara Village, which is an important tourist destination in Brazil. The aims of this study were to verify the prevalence of FIV and FeLV in domestic cats from Jericoacoara Village, as well as the risk factors, clinical signals and hematological changes associated with infection with these feline retroviruses. Samples from 113 cats were collected and tested using anti-FIV antibody and FeLV p27 screening; sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the gag gene were performed to confirm the FIV subtype. Fourteen cats (12.4%) tested positive for FIV and twelve (10.6%) tested positive for FeLV. The analysis of risk factors for FIV showed that age was a statistically significant risk factor (p=0.001). Dehydration (p=0.008) and hyperproteinemia (p=0.041) were statistically associated with FIV infection. The analysis of risk factors for FeLV showed that cats from high density environments are more likely to become infected than cats from houses with few animals, stray cats, and community cats (p=0.001). No statistical association was found between the clinical and hematological alterations with FeLV infection. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences from nine FIV-positive animals revealed that samples belonged to FIV subtype B. The data found in the study suggest the need to intensify the control of these feline retroviruses in this environmental protection area.