PROTOZOAN AND VIRAL INFECTIONS OF FERAL CATS

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Abstract
Identification of protozoan oocysts and serological tests were used to determine the prevalence of infections among 300 mainly adult feral cats in 3 different habitat types in southeastern Australia. Oocysts of Isospora rivolta and I. felis were recovered from 3 and 4%, respectively, of 300 feral cat samples. Hemagglutination inhibition antibody to Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 20% of 75 cat sera tested. A high prevalence of specific antibody to feline panleukopenia virus (79%) and feline calicivirus (77%) was demonstrated but the prevalence of antibody to feline herpesvirus was low (11%). There were 15 strains of feline calicivirus isolated from pharyngeal swabs. There were no other virus isolations from the 60 pharyngeal and rectal swabs taken. These viral and protozoan infections could not be linked with any obvious pathological conditions. Most cats were in good condition, with light to moderate fat stores in depot areas. Limb fractures and other skeletal abnormalities occurred infrequently. Major tooth damage or absence of important teeth was evident in .apprx. 20% of 164 animals examined. There was no correlation between major tooth damage and poor body condition.