Feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and Bartonella species in stray cats on St Kitts, West Indies

Abstract

Stray cats trapped in various areas of Basseterre, the capital of St Kitts in the West Indies, were tested for infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) using commercial kits. Of 99 (51 male and 48 female) cats trapped in 2006/7, 15% (12 males and three females) were positive for FIV while none were positive for FeLV. Of 72 (41 males and 31 females) cats trapped in 2009, 14% (nine males and one female) were positive for FIV while none were positive for FeLV. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed DNA of Bartonella species in whole blood collected from 60/95 (63%) cats trapped in 2006/7. Sequencing of the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region of a convenience sample of nine amplicons and the 11 isolates made from 43 blood samples which were cultured using Bartonella alpha Proteobacteria (BAPGM) enrichment medium revealed B henselae (14) and B clarridgeiae (six).

Identification of feline immunodeficiency virus subtype-B on St. Kitts, West Indies by quantitative PCR

“…Further, we have confirmed an earlier study [5] showing that FIV occurs on the island and is present at a high level (4/11; 36%) in stray cats, which is also the case in other Caribbean islands, for example Grenada (29%) [17]. Stray cats are common on St. Kitts [18] and thus present a reservoir of infection for the owned cats on the island where FIV is rare (0%; 0/24).…”

“…Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was first discovered in 1986 [1] and has since been identified as the agent of feline AIDS worldwide [2][3][4][5]. FIV is an important cat pathogen and its prevalence varies among geographic locations, from 2% up to 30% [6].…”

“…FIV is an important cat pathogen and its prevalence varies among geographic locations, from 2% up to 30% [6]. About 15% of stray cats on St. Kitts are seropositive for FIV by the SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo Test [5]. Although this test has high sensitivity, it may produce false positive results [7] and it has been recommended that positive results are confirmed with other tests [8].…”

Evaluation of biochemical and haematological parameters and prevalence of selected pathogens in feral cats from urban and rural habitats in South Korea

“…For FeLV infection, the occurrence in our study was relatively high compared with previous reports on retrovirus prevalence in feral or stray cats, which ranged from 0-12.2%. [23][24][25]45 The prevalence of FeLV in our study will have implications for cat practitioners in Korea who treat both pet and stray/feral cats in their clinics. Nevertheless, considering that the prevalence of retroviruses is generally low when tested at a population level, studies with a sufficient number of samples that fall into different categories of the tested variables would be required in order to explain the risk factors for retrovirus prevalence.…”

Survey of vector-borne agents in feral cats and first report of Babesia gibsoni in cats on St Kitts, West Indies

“…Bartonella spp. have been shown to occur on three Caribbean islands [ 7 , 9 , 14 , 15 ], cats seropositive against Rickettsia rickettsii have been identified on St Kitts [ 16 ], and DNA of Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli have been found in cats in Trinidad [ 6 ]. As studies from southern Africa [ 17 ], China [ 18 ], Italy [ 19 ], Japan [ 20 ], Portugal [ 21 ], Spain [ 22 ], Tasmania [ 23 ], and the United States of America [ 24 ] have shown cats can be infected with a number of vector-borne agents, we carried out a serology and PCR survey to determine exposure of cats on St Kitts to the more important vector-borne agents, mainly Ehrlichia , Babesia and spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR).…”