Infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência felina e vírus da leucemia felina em gatos domésticos em uma região no Centro-Oeste do Brasil de 2019 a 2022

Abstract

The retrovirus infection in felines, with worldwide distribution and nonspecific clinical signs, becomes crucial to establish a diagnosis, given that transmission can occur through friendly contact between animals and the sharing of fomites. Therefore, the objective of this research was to investigate the occurrence of FIV and FeLV infection in cats attended at a university hospital in the city of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, between 2019 and 2022, as well as to identify the distribution of infection in the municipality. Records of FIV and FeLV virus infection were obtained from the sample bank of the Leishmaniasis Laboratory of the aforementioned hospital during the period from 2019 to 2022. The diagnosis of FIV and FeLV was performed using the rapid immunochromatographic test SNAP FIV/FeLV Combo Test. During the period, 343 cats were tested, and the occurrence rates for FIV were 21.28%, for FeLV were 6.12%, and coinfection was 2%. FIV infection was statistically associated with outdoor access. FIV and FeLV infections were present in all administrative regions of Cuiabá. FIV infection was higher than FeLV in the four years analyzed in the city of Cuiabá and surrounding cities, demonstrating the importance of researching these viruses in the feline population and providing measures to curb the infection.