An investigation of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) infections in cats in western Turkey
Erol, NuralPasa, Serdar
Background: Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are among the most important pathogens of cats. Despite being common world-wide, data on the prevalence of these viruses in western Turkey are very limited in the literature. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence and the prevalence of the FIV and FeLV infections in the house and stray cats in the Aegean region of western Turkey. Effects of the risk factors such as age, gender, and lifestyle on the prevalence of the infections as well as the relationship between the general health status of the animals and infection rates were investigated. Materials, Methods & Results: Blood samples were taken from the house and stray cats brought to the clinics of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Adnan Menderes University or the private veterinary clinics in the provinces of Aydin and Izmir, Turkey, during the period of the study from May 2009 to June 2010. The serum samples were tested using commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits to detect p27 antigen of FeLV, neutralizing antibodies against the gp70 protein of the FeLV, and antibodies against p17 and p24 antigens of FIV. Two hundred and ten cats were tested for FeLV antigen and FIV-specific antibodies whereas 172 cats were tested for antibodies against FeLV. Overall positivity rates for the FeLV a
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