2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

In this study, the prevalence of GHVs in Japanese domestic cats was surveyed and risk factor for GHV infection was determined. FcaGHV prevalence in Japan (2.6%) was lower than previously reported prevalence in other countries and areas (US, 16%; Europe, 16.2%). It was unable to determine the cause of this difference. However, Japanese isolates were identified to have close genetic relationship to domestic cat derived FcaGHV. This finding suggested that the virus is highly conserved in each animal species and GHV is harboring in host specific manner as well as other herpesviruses. The risk factor for GHV infection in Japanese cats was FIV infection and it was same as previously reported. But we have to clarify how FIV enhances the GHV infection and/or viremia. The clinical importance of GHVs infection in feline practice is still unknown. Further investigation will be necessary to identify the pathogenicity of GHVs in domestic cats.