Abstract
Infections produced by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), two of the most prevalent pathogens in cats, range from passing unnoticed to presenting a wide variety of clinical signs. Different epidemiological, clinical, hematological and virological parameters were analyzed in 78 FIV- and/or FeLV-infected cats. FeLV-infected (FeLV+) cats were considerably younger than FIV-infected (FIV+) cats, and in general were seen to have a more severe disease than FIV+ cats. Around one third of the cats presented anemia, and neutropenia was also frequently observed. Though a higher percentage of FIV+ than FeLV+ cats had altered leukocyte counts, FeLV+ cats had altered counts of both neutrophils and lymphocytes more frequently than FIV+, which usually presented only either altered neutrophils or lymphocyte counts. Virological markers were only detected in FeLV+cats, either as mono- or dual-infection, and correlated with the severity of the disease, but not in FIV+ cats. In conclusion, these results suggest that FeLV affects more blood cell types and provokes death of affected animals at a much earlier age than FIV and that the severity of the disease seemed to depend on the viral status of the cat.
Highlights
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two of the most prevalent causes of feline infections worldwide [1]
Infections produced by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), two of the most prevalent pathogens in cats, range from passing unnoticed to presenting a wide variety of clinical signs
These results suggest that FeLV affects more blood cell types and provokes death of affected animals at a much earlier age than FIV and that the severity of the disease seemed to depend on the viral status of the cat
Summary
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are two of the most prevalent causes of feline infections worldwide [1]. FeLV, a gammaretrovirus, has a simple genome consisting only of the genes necessary for replication and particle formation (gag, pol and env). For this reason, it can only replicate in actively dividing cells, such as those in the bone marrow or lining the small intestine [2]. The decrease in lymphocytes and macrophages targeted by FIV induces a progressive breakdown of the immune system, which may lead to death [2,3,4] In general terms, both infections produce similar clinical signs and it is difficult to establish a precise clinical diagnosis [5]. In addition to all this, cats may be markedly sick by most biopathological parameters, but look clinically healthy
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