Prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus from 2023-2025 in Long Island, New York
Faculty Mentor
Maged Gomaa Hemida
Area of Research
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
Major
Comparative Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, M.S.
Description
Retroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population globally; Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in particular. Very few molecular, serological, and statistical studies have been performed within the United States. The primary objective of this study was to do molecular and serological surveillance of FIV and FeLV in cats within the locally accessible region of Long Island, New York. A total of 100 cats were subjected to this study from which we collected paired blood serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs. We used HESKA’s trūRapid™ FIV/FeLV kits to detect FIV antibodies and FeLV antigen per tested cat sample set and Retroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population across the globe, including in the USA. There are three known retroviruses affecting cats: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Foamy Virus (FFV). The FIV and FeLV are of major concern among the cat population. While FFV is most likely causing life-long infection in cats, it is not of significant concern, unlike FIV/FeLV infections. Little is known about the prevalence of the FIV/FeLV in feral cats in Long Island. The primary objective of the current study is to do molecular and serological surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in some feral cats in Long Island during 2022-2025. A total of 80 cats were subjected to this study. We collected paired serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs from each cat. All the tested cats were feral cats and not vaccinated against FIV/FeLV. We used the rapid Sensitive Non-Agglutination Particle (SNAP) kits to detect the FIV/FeLV antigens and antibodies per each tested cat sample. Our results show a total of 13/80 samples (16.25%) tested positive for the FIV antibody. A total of 7/80 samples (8.75%) were positive for the FeLV antigen. Meanwhile, 3/80 cat samples (3.75%) tested positive for the FIV antigens and FeLV antibodies. These results clearly confirm the active circulation of the FIV/FeLV in the feral cat population in Long Island. Further molecular characterization studies are ongoing in our laboratory to further characterize these FIV/FeLV strains in feral cats in Long Island. This study highlights the mandates of continuing surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in cats to prepare some novel diagnostic assays and vaccines against the currently circulating strains of these viruses in cats. The risk of cat infection with those viruses could be mitigated.
Prevalence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and Feline Leukemia Virus from 2023-2025 in Long Island, New York
Retroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population globally; Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in particular. Very few molecular, serological, and statistical studies have been performed within the United States. The primary objective of this study was to do molecular and serological surveillance of FIV and FeLV in cats within the locally accessible region of Long Island, New York. A total of 100 cats were subjected to this study from which we collected paired blood serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs. We used HESKA’s trūRapid™ FIV/FeLV kits to detect FIV antibodies and FeLV antigen per tested cat sample set and Retroviral infections pose a significant risk to the feline population across the globe, including in the USA. There are three known retroviruses affecting cats: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), and Feline Foamy Virus (FFV). The FIV and FeLV are of major concern among the cat population. While FFV is most likely causing life-long infection in cats, it is not of significant concern, unlike FIV/FeLV infections. Little is known about the prevalence of the FIV/FeLV in feral cats in Long Island. The primary objective of the current study is to do molecular and serological surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in some feral cats in Long Island during 2022-2025. A total of 80 cats were subjected to this study. We collected paired serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swabs from each cat. All the tested cats were feral cats and not vaccinated against FIV/FeLV. We used the rapid Sensitive Non-Agglutination Particle (SNAP) kits to detect the FIV/FeLV antigens and antibodies per each tested cat sample. Our results show a total of 13/80 samples (16.25%) tested positive for the FIV antibody. A total of 7/80 samples (8.75%) were positive for the FeLV antigen. Meanwhile, 3/80 cat samples (3.75%) tested positive for the FIV antigens and FeLV antibodies. These results clearly confirm the active circulation of the FIV/FeLV in the feral cat population in Long Island. Further molecular characterization studies are ongoing in our laboratory to further characterize these FIV/FeLV strains in feral cats in Long Island. This study highlights the mandates of continuing surveillance of the FIV/FeLV in cats to prepare some novel diagnostic assays and vaccines against the currently circulating strains of these viruses in cats. The risk of cat infection with those viruses could be mitigated.