Detecção molecular de Alphaherpesvirus felideo 1 e Calicivirus felino em gatos domésticos

Abstract

Felid alphaherpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1) and Felid calicivirus (FCV) are viral agents involved in Feline Respiratory Disease Complex (FRDC), frequent disease of the domestic cat population, but with lack of data regarding its occurrence in Brazil. Thus, the study aimed to identify the occurrence of FeHV-1 and FCV in southern Brazil, in domestic cats with clinical signs related to FRDC. Sample swabs from ocular, nasal and oral/oropharyngeal mucosa were collected from 49 cats showing clinical signs. Of these, 82% (40/49) were positive for FeHV-1 in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 41% (20/49) for FCV in RT-PCR (reverse transcription PCR). Coinfection occurred in 31% (15/49) animals. The main clinical sign associated to FeHV-1 was the ocular discharge, and to FCV the gingivitis-stomatits complex. FeHV-1 was detected mainly in ocular swab samples, and FCV in oral swab samples. Virus isolation in cell culture demonstrated cytopathic effect consistent with FeHV-1 and/or FCV in 35% (17/49) animals. These results demonstrate a high occurrence of FeHV-1 and FCV in symptomatic cats in southern Brazil. Briefly, the present study contributes to the epidemiology of FeHV-1 and FCV in domestic cats.