A survey of feline leukaemia virus antigenaemia among cats in eastern Austria: a retrospective analysis of serum samples routinely tested between 1996 and 2011

Firth, Clair L; Möstl, Karin

Unlike the situation in Germany, where prevalence fell from 13.4% in 1999 to between 2% and 5% in 2007-2009, and a study in Munich reported a drop from 6% in 1993 to 1% in 2002, 4 stagnated rather than decreased over the past 16 years. The reasons for this can only be speculated upon, but may include initial efficacy issues with the vaccine, safety concerns regarding fibrosarcomas, 19 low owner compliance, confusion as to the necessity of FeLV vaccination, the geographical location of Austria allowing the unhindered import of cats from Eastern Europe (particularly since the removal of border controls in 1997), and insufficient quarantine and testing in animal shelters. 20 However, none of these factors can fully explain why the FeLV prevalence in eastern Austria has not fallen to the much lower levels reported in neighbouring Germany.