Prevalence of feline viral leukemia in domestic cats located in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador

With the purpose of evaluating the prevalence of feline viral leukemia in domestic cats in Santo Domingo city, Ecuador, an investigation was carried out on 47 cats older than 6 months, healthy or with pathological signs, treated at the SERVET Veterinary Clinic. A 0.75 ml blood sample was extracted from the cephalic vein of each patient for diagnosis, through molecular tests, which were performed from the plasma obtained by centrifugation. For the determination, a Bioer LineGene 9600 Plus thermocycler was used, the general prevalence of the disease was calculated and the risk factors were determined through contingency analysis; in addition, the Chi-square and Fisher tests were used, according to the nature of the data. The results show that the prevalence of FeLV in Santo Domingo city was 68.1%; because access to the main risk factor was represented by age, with young cats being the most susceptible. Access to open spaces and the lack of adequate health care implies high risks of infection. 68.8% of the cats that were positive live in open houses, 93.8% did not have the application of FeLV vaccines and 62.5% do not deworm regularly. Gender, reproductive fertility status, application of the triple vaccine, breed purity, type of diet, or living with other animals do not affect FeLv infection as risk factors.

• Main Author: Guillen Gonzalez, Fredy Fabian (author)
• Other Authors: Castillo Hidalgo, Edy (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: PCR; Felis silvestris catus; edad; vacuna FeLV; manejo sanitario; age; FeLV vaccine; sanitary management
• Online Access: https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/355