Occurrence ofChlamydophila felis,feline herpesvirus 1 and calcivirus in domestic cats of Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Feline herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirusandChlamydophila felisare the main causes of feline upper respiratory tract disease. This study was conducted to identify of FeHV-1, FCV andC. felisinfections in domestic cat population and also to estimate the prevalence of each specific infection in Iran.


METHODS
The ocular conjunctiva and oropharyngeal specimens obtained from 80 cats were examined using PCR and reverse transcription PCR.


RESULTS
FeHV-1 was detected in 23 (28.8%), FCV in 2 (2.5%) andC. felisin 16 (20%) cats. Twelve cats(15%) had co-infection with 2 or 3 of the mentioned pathogens. Ocular lesions were the most common clinical signs in the FeHV-1 andC. felisinfections whereas respiratory lesions were more observed with the FCV infections. It seems that there is an age-related tendency in the infected cats, meaning that the age of theC. felispositive cats was less than those with FeHV-1 and FCV infections.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the presence and show the prevalence of three major pathogens associated with upper respiratory tract disease for the first time in Iran.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Nadi
N
Maazi
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Shahram
S
Jamshidi
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahre Kord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahre Kord, Iran.
Payman
P
Kayhani
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahre Kord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahre Kord, Iran.
Hassan
H
Momtaz
Chlamydophila felis; FCV; FeHV-1; Ocular lesions; URSD