Research Article Open Access

Occurrence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) in São Luís-MA

Nathálya dos Santos Martins1, Ana Paula Sousa Rodrigues2, Stefanne Aparecida Gonçalves2, Ana Lucia Abreu Silva1, Rudson Almeida de Oliveira1, Jenner Karlisson Pimenta dos Reis2 and Ferdinan Almeida Melo1
  • 1 Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Brazil
  • 2 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus in the city of São Luí­s, Maranhão state (MA), Brazil. A total of 120 blood samples were tested using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect the proviral DNA, with an amplification of a fragment of 244bp of the FIV's gene gag. To detect anti-FIV antibodies and the p27antigen of FeLV, the samples were tested with a commercial immunoassay kit, SNAP Combo Plus (IDEXX® Laboratories, USA), an indirect ELISA was also carried out for FIV. All three tests used gave 18.33% (22/120) of positivity for FIV. PCR and indirect ELISA found 10.83% (13/120) of the animals with FIV, while the SNAP Combo Plus found 9.17% (11/120). Only 0.83% (1/120) of the samples were positive for FeLV in the SNAP combo plus. Comparatively, SNAP combo plus showed higher sensitivity, whereas the indirect ELISA and PCR had, similar and better specificity (p<0.05). The small difference between the tests (all above 90%) indicates that they are highly specific and have a high VPN, implying that they have the capacity to distinguish true negatives. Therefore, this study concluded that FIV is present in São Luí­s and that the clinical disease exists in Maranhão state, whereas for FeLV, there was only one seropositive animal which did not show any symptoms.

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Volume 10 No. 3, 2015, 187-192

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2015.187.192

Submitted On: 29 January 2015 Published On: 24 July 2015

How to Cite: Martins, N. D. S., Sousa Rodrigues, A. P., Gonçalves, S. A., Abreu Silva, A. L., de Oliveira, R. A., dos Reis, J. K. P. & Melo, F. A. (2015). Occurrence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) in São Luís-MA. American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 10(3), 187-192. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2015.187.192

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Keywords

  • Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
  • Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • ELISA
  • São Luís