Feline immunodeficiency virus in Northern Ceará, Brazil

• Main Authors: Bruno Marques Teixeira, Sueli Akemi Taniwaki, Poliana Marisa Miranda Menezes, Ana Kétylla Ponte Prado Rodrigues, Andressa Nunes Mouta, Thiago Luiz Mendes Arcebispo, Gissandra Farias Braz, Juliano Cezar Minardi da Cruz, Paulo Eduardo Brandão, Marcos Bryan Heinemann, Marcos Xavier Silva, Margaret J Hosie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-07-01
• Series: Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116919859112

Objectives The objectives of this study were to confirm the prevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in domestic cats in the region north of Ceará, Brazil, and to determine the factors associated with infection and the major circulating subtypes of the virus in this area. Methods Samples from 148 cats were collected and tested using anti-FIV antibody screening, with confirmation of positive results by PCR. Univariate analysis was performed considering the epidemiological characteristics and FIV status. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the gag and pol genes were performed to confirm the FIV subtype. Results Nine cats (6.1%) tested positive for FIV – one female (0.7%) and eight males (5.4%). Male cats were significantly more likely to be infected ( P <0.05). Phylogenetic analysis of gag and pol gene sequences indicated that the FIV isolates circulating in the study area belonged to subtype B. Conclusions and relevance In this study, we demonstrated a low prevalence for FIV in the northwest of Ceará, north-eastern Brazil. Male sex is a significant risk factor for FIV infection and the best predictive factor for FIV status. All isolates examined in this study clustered within subtype B, which is the predominant subtype in Brazil. This is the first report of genetic characterization of FIV in the state of Ceará, Brazil.