Occurrence and risk factors of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) in cats of Lebanon

Sara Khalife; Imad Al Kassaa

doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101931

Occurrence and risk factors of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) in cats of Lebanon

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2023 Feb:93:101931. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101931. Epub 2022 Dec 17.

Authors

Sara Khalife¹, Imad Al Kassaa²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli, Lebanon. Electronic address: sara.khalifeh@bau.edu.lb.
² Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.

PMID: 36565524
DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101931

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out between April 2020 and August 2021. Blood samples were collected from 260 household cats recruited in different clinics in North and Mount Lebanon, with the aim of determining the seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). The seroprevalence reported reached 18.84% (95% CI 0.14-0.24) and 13.84% (95% CI 0.09-0.18) for FIV and FeLV, respectively. FIV seropositivity was associated with a younger age, health and neuter status, lymphoma, lethargy, and vomiting. Furthermore, male sex, neuter status, lymphoma, anaemia, lethargy, and vomiting were significantly associated with FeLV seropositivity. This first data from Lebanon emphasizes the need for implementing preventive programmes to cope with FIV- and FeLV-associated morbidity and mortality among cats.

Keywords: Feline immunodeficiency virus; Feline leukaemia virus; Household cats; Lebanon; Seroprevalence.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cat Diseases* / epidemiology
Cats
Cross-Sectional Studies
Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome* / epidemiology
Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline*
Lebanon
Lethargy / veterinary
Leukemia Virus, Feline
Lymphoma* / veterinary
Male
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies