title: Seroprevalence of feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and heartworm infection among owned cats in tropical Mexico.
abstract: Several infectious agents may be distributed within a healthy population of cats where diverse risk factors predispose them to come into contact with pathogens. Blood samples from 227 owned cats in Merida, Mexico, were collected with the objective of determining the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and Dirofilaria immitis antigen, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody. Serological detection of FeLV and D immitis antigens, and FIV antibodies was performed using the commercial kit SNAP Feline Triple Test. The prevalence was found to be 7.5% for FeLV, 2.5% for FIV and 0% for D immitis. Adult cats were at a higher risk of coming into contact with FeLV (P <0.01) than younger cats. Owing to its low prevalence, a risk factor analysis was not performed for FIV. The prevalence of retroviral infections found in this study was low, but within the limits reported in the different geographical areas of the world. Cases of filariosis in the domestic cats of Merida, Mexico, may be absent or very low; however, the low sample size may have influenced these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico opacheco@uady.mx.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortega-Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Armando J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Caballero
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Colin-Flores
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Regional Research Centre 'Dr Hideyo Noguchi', Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Karla Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Acosta-Viana
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Regional Research Centre 'Dr Hideyo Noguchi', Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guzman-Marin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Regional Research Centre 'Dr Hideyo Noguchi', Autonomous University of Yucatan, Yucatán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Coello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008800:Mexico; D057805:Pets / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies