Feline upper respiratory tract disease: survey of Chlamydophila felis, feline herpesvirus type 1 and co-infection with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia in wild felines kept in captivity

• Grant number: 09/17513-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Aramis Augusto Pinto
• Grantee: Aramis Augusto Pinto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Feline upper respiratory tract disease, either caused by feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) as the calicivirus and even by the bacteria Chlamydophila felis, is a difficult clinical diagnosis due to the similarity of clinical signs (conjunctivitis, nasal and ocular discharge, sneezing). Therefore, the laboratory diagnosis in order to identify the agent involved in the upper respiratory tract disease is critical to the success of treatment and control of the upper respiratory tract disease. Moreover, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection, both immunosuppressive agents, are very common among cats. Thus, co-infection with immunosuppressive viruses of infectious agents of upper respiratory tract disease lead to increased severity of clinical signs of infection by FIV and FeLV, and greater elimination of the secondary agent. In Brazil there are few studies on these agents in wild felids kept in captivity. In the literature, we do not find any articles on direct diagnosis of FHV-1 and C. felis, as well as any work correlating co-infection of FHV-1, chlamydiosis, FIV and FeLV. The objective of this research is to investigate antigens and antibodies anti-C. felis in felines, using both PCR and indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) assay, respectively. And yet, by restriction enzymes, to determine the species of Chlamydophila involved. Moreover, research in materials under study, the presence of antigens for the FHV-1 and FeLV and FIV antibodies. Consequently whether these agents of disease are common in wild felids kept in captivity and thus verify the existence of co-infection of these agents in the population. (AU)