Avaliação dos aspectos epidemiológicos, hematológicos e anatomopatológicos de felinos positivos para o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV)

Abstract

The feline population has significantly increased in recent times, leading to the common emergence of overpopulations, which predominantly concentrate on the streets in contact with other animals, consequently contributing to the spread and perpetuation of viral agents within and outside these groups. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is a highly infectious disease caused by a retrovirus, which holds significant importance in veterinary medicine as it stands out as one of the most commonly encountered agents in the clinical routine of domestic cats. The infection leads to the development of myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative diseases, opportunistic infections, and severe immune health impairment in these animals. This study aimed to construct an epidemiological profile and list the most common hematological and pathological changes in cats infected with FeLV. Four hundred medical records of cats received at a private clinic from 2020 to 2023 were analyzed to identify those who tested positive for the virus. Of the 400 animals, 120 tested positive via the rapid ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) test. Data such as the animal's age, sex, and whether the animal was neutered were collected from the positive cases and later subjected to descriptive statistics. The erythrogram and leukogram of 58 seropositive cats, along with 36 seropositive cats that died during the study, were evaluated. Additionally, 13 necropsy reports provided by the Pathology Laboratory at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul were reviewed to classify the most frequent macroscopic alterations. Regarding the epidemiological profile, it was concluded that male, non-neutered cats with an average age of 3 years constitute the profile of animals infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV). By the end of the study, 46.67% (56/120) of seropositive animals had died. The most frequent hematological changes observed were moderate to severe thrombocytopenia, decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (CHCM), and monocytosis. The remaining average values of erythrogram and leukogram were within normal parameters. The most common pathological findings in necropsied animals were lipidosis, anemia, lymphoma, and hydropericardium, and these felines had an average body condition score of 3.5. The research highlighted alterations that corroborate similar studies and emphasizes the need for further information about the disease and its evolutionary course for the identification and control of animals infected with the virus.