Risk factors for seropositivity to feline retroviruses among owned domestic cats in Valdivia, southern Chile

Abstract

We identified risk factors associated with seropositivity to feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the association between seropositivity to these retroviruses and the presence of clinical signs. Cats under veterinary care had lower risk of FeLV seropositivity and male cats had higher risk of FIV seropositivity. FeLV seropositive animals had higher odds of non-specific clinical signs and reproductive disorders. FIV seropositive cats had higher odds of buccal alterations. These findings are useful to obtain a first approach to identifying felines that need the application of diagnostic tests for retroviral infections