Affiliation:
1. Internal Medicine Small Animal Specialist Hospital Sydney New South Wales Australia
2. Bristol Veterinary School University of Bristol Langford UK
3. The Linnaeus Medical Team Linnaeus Group Solihull UK
4. Langford Vets University of Bristol Langford UK
Abstract
ObjectivesFeline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and Chlamydia felis are common causes of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in cats. Their prevalence in the UK pet cat population has not been reported and little is known regarding the risk factors for their oral carriage.MethodsTotal nucleic acid was extracted from owner‐collected buccal swabs (n=600) from cats enrolled in a self‐selected longitudinal cohort study. Duplex quantitative PCRs for the detection of FHV and C. felis genomic DNA and reverse‐transcriptase quantitative PCRs for the detection of FCV genomic RNA were performed. Duplicates, swabs with insufficient host DNA/RNA, and cats with missing data were excluded. Selected epidemiological data were interrogated using univariable and multi‐variable logistic regression modelling to identify risk factors.ResultsData from 430 cats were included in the final statistical model. Of these, 2.1% (n=9/430; 95% CI 1.0% to 3.9%) were positive for FHV, 13.3% (n=57/430; 95% CI 10.2% to 16.8%) positive for FCV and 1.2% (n=5/430; 95% CI 0.4% to 2.7%) positive for C. felis. FCV co‐infection was present in five (44%) FHV‐positive cats and three (60%) C. felis‐positive cats. FCV carriage was more frequent in purebred cats (odds ratio 2.48; 95% CI 1.37 to 4.49) and in cats with current or historical clinical signs compatible with URTD (odds ratio 2.98; 95% CI 1.22 to 7.27).Clinical SignificanceFCV was the most frequently encountered URTD pathogen in this sample of cats; this should be noted for disinfectant choice. In cats suspected of having FHV or C. felis infection, assessment for co‐infection with FCV is recommended.
Funder
Petplan Charitable Trust
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Zoetis
Cited by
1 articles.
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