Prevalence of feline leukemia virus infection and serum antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus in unowned free-roaming cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of FeLV infection and serum antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in unowned free-roaming cats.


METHODS
Cross-sectional serologic survey.


METHODS
733 unowned free-roaming cats in Raleigh, NC, and 1,143 unowned free-roaming cats in Gainesville, Fla.


RESULTS
In Raleigh, overall prevalence of FeLV infection was 5.3%, and overall seroprevalence for FIV was 2.3%. In Gainesville, overall prevalence of FeLV infection was 3.7%, and overall seroprevalence for FIV was 4.3%. Overall, FeLV prevalence was 4.3%, and seroprevalence for FIV was 3.5%. Prevalence of FeLV infection was not significantly different between males (4.9%) and females (3.8%), although seroprevalence for FIV was significantly higher in male cats (6.3%) than in female cats (1.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of FeLV infection and seroprevalence for FIV in unowned free-roaming cats in Raleigh and Gainesville are similar to prevalence rates reported for owned cats in the United States. Male cats are at increased risk for exposure to FIV, compared with female cats.
Lee
Irene T
IT
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Levy
Julie K
JK
Gorman
Shawn P
SP
Crawford
P Cynda
PC
Slater
Margaret R
MR
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral