Detection of the Presence of Feline Viral Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Using the PCR Technique (Atena Editora)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate, using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, the detection of the virus that causes Feline Viral Leukemia (FeLV) in blood samples from a group of 12 unvaccinated cats that lived together. In order to control the technique, 2 more animals were used that already had a positive result for FeLV in the SNAP FIV/FeLV rapid test (Combo IDEXX). Among the group of 12 cats, there were 4 males and 8 females with ages ranging from 7 months to 4 years of age, which were rescued from the wild in the municipality of São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro at different times. FeLV is a disease caused by a virus belonging to the Retroviridae family and its main route of elimination is through the saliva of contaminated felines. It has a high incidence in the clinical routine affecting domestic felines, being the most susceptible those that are free-living. Positive animals may be asymptomatic or show clinical signs such as the anorexia, apathy, anemia, stomatitis and even the appearance of lymphomas. For the spread of this disease, direct contact with a positive feline is necessary, which can be through the sharing of feeders and drinkers or through fights and licks, since the virus does not resist outside the host and is easily eliminated by cleaning products. . This disease has different forms of infection, including the abortive infection, in which the virus is eliminated by the immune system, the regressive form in which the virus spreads to monocytes and lymphocytes, and the progressive form where viral replication is intense, spread to bone marrow, epithelial and glandular tissues. PCR is able to detect the presence of the virus even in the regressive form of the infection, whereas rapid serological methods cannot. In view of this, it is important to carry out this routine diagnostic method for FeLV, since there are positive animals that are asymptomatic. The realization of this study allowed a reliable diagnosis from PCR, in which of these animals, the 2 animals already positive confirmed to be also in PCR, while the group of 12 that lived together had a negative result. Because it is considered one of the most serious diseases that affect cats and that has no cure, diagnosis is very important to prevent the spread of the disease to other healthy cats.