Volume 64 (2014) Issue: 2014 No#3

Occurrence of Bartonella henselae, FeLV and FIV infection in 60 stray cats from Serbia

Author(s): Potkonjak Aleksandar, Vračar Vuk, Stančić Ivan, Spasojević Kosić Ljubica, Bacić Dragan, Cincović Marko, Toholj Bojan, Stevančević Ognjen, Ristić Zoran

Keywords:Bartonella henselae, cats, coinfection, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of coinfection with pathogens Bartonella henselae, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia virus in stray cats from the area of Novi Sad and Belgrade, Serbia. Each of 60 individual cats was clinically examined and the blood sampled. Therewithal an epidemiological survey was made. Blood sera were separated by centrifugation and serologically tested in order to determine the presence of Bartonella henselae specific antibodies (by direct immunofluorescence assay), feline immunodeficiency virus specific antibodies (by rapid test SNAP Combo) and feline leukemia virus antigens (by rapid test SNAP Combo). Of the 60 cat sera, serologically examined using IFA test, 33 (55%) were positive for the presence of IgG specific to B. henselae antigens. A total of 13 (27%) of the 60 tested cat sera were positive for the presence of specific antibodies to FIV antigens. None of the 60 tested cat sera were positive for the presence of FeLV antigen. Of the 33 cat sera which contained IgG antibodies to B. henselae, 6 cat sera also gave a positive reaction to the presence of specific IgG antibodies to FIV; this was a coinfection seroprevalence of 10% in the total population of studied cats. The results obtained in this study indicate the presence of B. henselae and FIV coinfection in cats from Serbia, without FeLV positive cats. An increase in the manifestations of clinical symptoms in cats in which the serological tests determined coinfection with B. henselae and FIV is evident compared to those seropositive only to B. henselae.