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

The sex distribution of cats tested was relatively equally divided between male and female animals. Among FeLV antigenaemic individuals, no statistically significant difference was noted with respect to sex in 1996 and 2008-2011 (P = 0.5416). This corresponds with the results of studies in Switzerland, in Italy and in Germany, 9, 16, 18, 22 but contrasts with the study of Gleich et al in Germany where male cats were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with FeLV. 5 A number of factors influenced the results of this analysis. Most important of all was the fact that the tested population was preselected by external veterinary surgeons and that the health status of the cats tested was not routinely provided. While the majority of these samples may have been sent for prevaccination screening, some may have been from clinically symptomatic animals, which could account for the relatively high prevalence determined here.