title: Prevalence of serum antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus 1, and feline calicivirus in cats entering a Florida animal shelter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the proportion of cats entering a Florida animal shelter with serum antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1), and feline calicivirus (FCV) and to identify factors associated with seropositivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  347 cats admitted to a Florida animal shelter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within 24 hours after admission to the animal shelter, blood samples were collected from all cats ≥ 8 weeks of age. Serum antibody titers against FPV were determined via a hemagglutination inhibition assay, and those against FHV1 and FCV were determined via virus neutralization assays. Age, sex, environment (urban or rural), source (stray or previously owned), evidence of previous caregiving, health status (healthy or not healthy), and outcome (adoption, transfer, return to owner, or euthanasia) were evaluated as potential factors associated with antibody seropositivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 347 cats, 138 (39.8%), 38 (11.0%), and 127 (36.6%) had antibody titers ≥ 40, ≥ 8, and ≥ 32 (ie, seropositive) against FPV, FHV1, and FCV, respectively. Factors associated with seropositivity included being neutered, age ≥ 6 months, and being relinquished by an owner. On multivariable analysis, health status at shelter admission, environment, vaccination at shelter admission, and outcome were not associated with seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most cats were seronegative for antibodies against FPV, FHV1, and FCV at the time of admission to an animal shelter. These findings supported current guidelines that recommend vaccination of all cats immediately after admission to animal shelters, regardless of the source or physical condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: DiGangi
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McGorray
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dubovi
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dingman
authors.forename: Sylvia J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D005254:Feline Panleukopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D028301:Feline Panleukopenia Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral