Detecção de caracterização molecular do vírus da leucemia felina de gatos domésticos da região da Serra Gaúcha

Abstract

The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a Gammaretrovirus, from the Retroviridae family, which infects domestic and wild felines. It is a virus that causes an infection transmitted among felines by fomites, licks or bites. Clinically, feline viral leukemia can present several serious clinical syndromes, such as neoplasms, leukemias, hematological, myeloproliferative and neurological disorders, among others. FeLV is composed of a single strand of RNA, surrounded by an envelope, consisting of three genes env, gag, pol. Currently, we can differentiate the virus into five subgroups according genetic anlysis: FeLV-A, B, C, D and T. Subgroup A is predominant, but less pathogenic. Subgroups B and C are less common and arise from genetic recombinations of exogenous viruses with endogenous retroviruses from the genomes of infected cats . Diagnosis of the disease is performed by rapid immunochromatic tests or molecular analyzes such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, despite the availability of these tools, there is still little information about the molecular epidemiology of the virus in the Serra Gaúcha region. The aim of this study was to detect and genetically characterize FeLV in felines from Serra Gaúcha. A total of 39 feline samples were collected, and 29 selected for sequencing. The age of the sampled cats ranged between three months and 15 years. Analysis of the data from the sequenced samples showed that 26 (89.7%) had active disease, with anemia being the most frequent hematological disorder. In the phylogenetic analysis, 93.1% (27/29) samples were of FeLV-A, and 6.9% (2/29) of FeLV-B. According to the findings of our study, we detected a high frequency of FeLV-A, which may be strongly related to the geographic region, as demonstrated in other studies. More studies are needed to understand more about the pathogenesis of the disease, as well as ways to control and eliminate this virus, since it is an untreated disease. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]