Seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis, feline leukemia virus, and feline immunodeficiency virus infection among dogs and cats exported from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricane disaster area.
OBJECTIVE
To determine seroprevalence of dirofilariasis in dogs and seroprevalences of dirofilariasis, FeLV infection, and FIV infection in cats exported from the Gulf Coast region following the 2005 hurricanes.


METHODS
Seroprevalence survey.


METHODS
1,958 dogs and 1,289 cats exported from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas between August 20 and December 31, 2005.


METHODS
141 animal welfare groups in 37 states and Alberta, Canada, reported results of serologic testing. Risk factors for infection, including age, sex, neuter status, breed, and state of rescue, were examined by means of univariate and multivariate logistic regression.


RESULTS
Seroprevalence of dirofilariasis in dogs was 48.8%. Sexually intact dogs were 1.6 times as likely to have dirofilariasis as were neutered dogs, dogs in the ancient breed group were 2.2 times as likely and dogs in the guarding breed group were 1.7 times as likely to have dirofilariasis as were dogs in the herding breed group, and dogs from Mississippi were significantly less likely to have dirofilariasis than were dogs from Texas. Seroprevalences of dirofilariasis, FeLV infection, and FIV infection in cats were 4.0%, 2.6%, and 3.6%, respectively. Seroprevalence of FIV infection was significantly higher in adult cats than in juveniles and in males than in females.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that dogs and cats exported from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricane disaster area had disease rates similar to those for animals in the region prior to the hurricanes.
Levy
Julie K
JK
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA.
Edinboro
Charlotte H
CH
Glotfelty
Carmen-Susan
CS
Dingman
Patricia A
PA
West
Aundria L
AL
Kirkland-Cady
Kathy D
KD
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002369:Castration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary; D002415:Cats; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000276:immunology; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000276:immunology; D016582:Leukemia, Feline / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000914:Antibodies, Viral