Oral lesions and retroviruses in shelter cats

Afecções orais e retroviroses em gatos de abrigo

ABSTRACT:

Oral lesions are common problems in feline medicine worldwide, and may be associated with different causes, such as infectious agents. There are only a few studies reporting the chief oral diseases and the results for retrovirus tests in shelter cats in Brazil, especially in the South region. This study aimed to identify the main inflammatory oral lesions in shelter cats and verify the test results for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections. Forty-three felines from private shelters in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state (RS) that presented clinically evident oral lesions, regardless of age, breed, sex, and neuter status, were used in this survey. Serological tests for FIV and FeLV were performed in all cats, and data regarding the rearing system were collected. Sixteen cats (37.2%) were reared in a free system, whereas 27 (62.8%) were kept under a restrict system. Of the 43 cats with oral lesions, 29 (67.44%) presented only one type of lesion, characterized as periodontitis (n=22, 51.16%), followed by gingivitis (n=6, 13.95%), and stomatitis (n=1, 2.32%). Concomitant stomatitis and periodontitis were found in the 14 remaining cats (100%). With respect to the test results for retrovirus infections, nine (20.93%) of the 43 felines were positive for FIV alone. Co-infection with both viruses was observed in seven cats (16.28%). No cat was seropositive for FeLV valone. None of the six cats that presented gingivitis was positive for FIV and FeLV; one cat with stomatitis was positive for FIV and FeLV; of the 22 cats with periodontitis, six (27.27%) were FIV positive and two (9.09%) were FIV/FeLV positive; and of the 14 cats that presented stomatitis and periodontitis, three (21.43%) were FIV positive and four (28.57%) were FIV/FeLV positive. As for diagnosis, 28 cats (65.1%) presented solely periodontal disease (PD), one cat (2.32%) had feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG) alone, and 14 (32.5%) had both PD and FCG. The results obtained show that the main oral lesions found in shelter cats in the central region of RS were gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontitis. Periodontitis, in association or not with stomatitis, was the most frequently observed oral cavity lesion in FIV- and/or FeLV-positive cats. Other factors may contribute to installation of inflammatory oral diseases in shelter cats because most cats with oral cavity lesions tested negative for retrovirus infections.

INDEX TERMS:
Oral lesions; retroviruses; shelter cats; feline medicine; periodontal disease; gingivostomatitis; immunodeficiency; leukemia; clinics

RESUMO:

As afecções orais são problemas comuns em medicina felina em diferentes locais do mundo e podem estar relacionadas a diferentes causas, como agentes infecciosos. Poucos estudos foram encontrados no Brasil sobre o levantamento das principais doenças orais e dos resultados de testes para retrovírus em gatos de abrigos, principalmente na região Sul. Diante disso, o objetivo deste artigo foi identificar as principais afecções orais inflamatórias em gatos de abrigos e verificar os resultados dos testes para o vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) e o vírus da leucemia felina (FeLV). Foram incluídos 43 felinos provenientes de abrigos privados localizados na região central do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) que apresentavam lesões orais clinicamente evidentes, independente de idade, raça, gênero e estado reprodutivo. Em todos os gatos foram realizados testes sorológicos para FIV e FeLV e obtidas informações referentes ao sistema de criação. Em 16 gatos (37,2%), o sistema de criação era livre, enquanto em 27 (62,8%) era restrito. Dos 43 gatos com lesões orais, em 29 (67,44%) foi verificado somente um tipo de lesão, caracterizado como periodontite (n=22, 51,16%), seguido de gengivite (n=6, 13,95%) e estomatite (n=1, 2,32%). Lesões concomitantes de estomatite e periodontite foram encontradas nos 14 gatos (100%) restantes. Quanto aos resultados dos testes para retrovírus, nove (20,93%) dos 43 felinos testados, foram positivos somente para FIV. Em sete gatos (16,28%) foi observada coinfecção pelos dois vírus. Em nenhum gato foi observado soropositividade somente para FeLV. Dos seis gatos com gengivite, nenhum foi positivo para FIV e FeLV; um gato com estomatite foi positivo para FIV e FeLV; dos 22 gatos com periodontite, seis (27,27%) foram FIV positivos e dois (9,09%) FIV/FeLV positivos; e dos 14 com estomatite e periodontite, três (21,43%) foram FIV positivos e quatro (28,57%) FIV/FeLV positivos. Quanto ao diagnóstico, em 28 gatos (65,1%) foi observada somente doença periodontal (DP), em um (2,32%) somente gengivoestomatite crônica felina (GECF) e em 14 gatos (32,5%) DP e GECF. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que as principais lesões orais encontradas em gatos de abrigos da região central do RS foram gengivite, estomatite e periodontite; a periodontite associada ou não a estomatite foi a lesão oral mais frequente nos gatos positivos para FIV e/ou FeLV. Acredita-se que outros fatores possam contribuir na instalação de doenças orais em gatos de abrigos, já que houve predomínio de gatos com resultados negativos nos testes para os retrovírus.

TERMOS DE INDEXAÇÃO:
Afecções orais; retroviroses; gatos de abrigo; medicina felina; doença periodontal; gengivoestomatite; imunodeficiência; leucemia; clínica

Introduction

Inflammatory oral disease in cats is a complex and multifactorial condition consisting primarily of local or widespread inflammation in the oral cavity (Kornya et al. 2014). The main oral diseases observed in felines are periodontal disease (PD) (Clarke & Cameron 1998, Perry & Tutt 2015), which corresponds to 13.9% of all diagnoses for this species (O’Neill et al. 2014), and feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCG), which accounts for approximately 72% of the odontological diagnoses (Frost & Williams 1986).

PD is mainly caused by Gram-positive aerobic bacteria, although other risk factors are associated with the prevalence and severity of periodontal lesions (Logan 2006, Perry & Tutt 2015). Other causes acknowledged in the PD and FCG etiology include dental calculus deposits, an unbalanced diet -including lack of dry foods (Studer & Stapley 1973, Watson 1994, Clarke & Cameron 1998, Logan 2006), and immunological factors (Tenorio et al. 1991).

FCG is characterized by persistent, usually severe inflammation of the gingiva and oral mucosa presenting ulcerative and/or proliferative lesions, especially in the palatoglossal arch region (Lyon 2005). FCG may be considered as multifactorial, although it is likely that infectious agents are involved (Mallonee et al. 1988, Love & Zuber 1987, Knowles et al. 1989, Tenorio et al. 1991, Lyon 2005).

Upon diagnosing oral cavity lesions in cats, the possibility of underlying systemic diseases should be considered. It is believed that oral cavity lesions occur in cats infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) due to their systemic immunosuppressing effect, which hinders the animals’ ability to fight the pathogens. Oral cavity lesions are among the different clinical manifestations of retrovirus infections, and are characterized by several degrees of gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontitis (Arzi et al. 2008).

FIV and FeLV belong to the family Retroviridae. They can cause insidious infections specific of domestic felines, and are usually disseminated in cat populations (Levy et al. 2008, Hartmann 2011). FIV is a retrovirus of the genus Lentivirus, which is transmitted primarily in saliva through the bite wounds (Hosie et al. 2009). FeLV is a Gammaretrovirus that is also primarily transmitted via saliva (Lutz et al. 2009).

Prevalence of FIV and FeLV infections varies widely according to the characteristics of the populations evaluated (Levy et al. 2006). In the United States, the prevalence of both infections is approximately 2% in healthy cats and 30% in high-risk or unhealthy felines (Levy et al. 2006).

In Brazil, research on the occurrence of FIV and FeLV infections in cats from different regions (Northeast, Central-West, South, and Southeast) and facilities (veterinary hospitals and clinics, shelters, or private homes) showed prevalence figures varying from below 2.0 to 37.5% and from 8.0 to 63.0%, for FIV and FeLV, respectively (Teixeira et al. 2007, Meinerz et al. 2010, Santos et al. 2013, Almeida et al. 2016, Barros et al. 2017, Poffo et al. 2017). However, none of these studies have identified the occurrence of the chief oral lesions in the populations tested for retroviruses.

Therefore, due to the relevance of this topic and the absence of data on the main oral cavity diseases and test results for retrovirus infection in shelter cats in the South region of Brazil, this study aimed to identify the main oral lesions and verify the test results in a feline population in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state.

Materials and Methods

The study sample was composed of forty-three felines from three private shelters located in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, presenting clinically evident oral cavity lesions regardless of age, breed, sex, and neuter status, and with no vaccination record. Inclusion criteria for oral evaluation were based on the owners’ observation of changes in the animals’ behavior during feeding, such as difficulty grasping, dysphagia and/or sialorrhea.

Patients were authorized to participate in the study by the owner-manager of each shelter, and all procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) under protocol no. 4659251017/2017.

The animals’ oral cavity was inspected under general dissociative anesthesia, prepared with an association of ketamine hydrochloride 10% (8mg/kg)^-1 and xylazine hydrochloride 2% (1mg/kg^-1), both administered through deep intramuscular route.

According to the gross findings, oral lesions were classified as follows: 1) gingivitis (inflammation of the gingiva alone); 2) periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium); 3) stomatitis (inflammation of the mucosa lining the caudal oral cavity lateral to the palatoglossal arch, extending rostrally to the gingiva, the alveolar, oral, labial and sublingual mucosae and, occasionally, to the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the tongue, including lesions compatible with FCG (Gawor et al. 2006, Reiter & Soltero-Rivera 2017). Each cat was diagnosed with PD and/or gingivostomatitis (GS) according to the lesions observed (Table 1). Non-inflammatory oral lesions, such as dental fractures and absence of teeth, were not included in this study.

Table 1.
Gender, reproductive status, age, type of oral lesion, diagnosis, and test results for retrovirus infections of the 43 felines from shelters in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Cat no.	Sex/Neuterstatus	Age (years)	Type of oral cavity lesion	Diagnosis	Retrovirus
					FIVa	FeLVb
1	IMc	NIf	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCGh/PD	+j	+
2	IM	NI	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	+
3	IM	NI	Periodontitis	PDi	+	+
4	IM	NI	Periodontitis	PD	+	+
5	NF	NI	Periodontitis	PD	+	-k
6	NF	NI	Periodontitis	PD	+	-
7	NF	NI	Periodontitis	PD	+	-
8	IM	NI	Periodontitis	PD	+	-
9	IF	NI	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	-
10	IM	NI	Stomatitis	FCG	+	+
11	NMd	NI	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	+
12	NFe	12	Gingivitis		-	-
13	NM	05	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
14	NM	09	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
15	NF	NI	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
16	NM	04	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
17	NM	05	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
18	NM	07	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
19	NM	07	Periodontitis		-	-
20	NF	07	Stomatitis; periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
21	NF	07	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
22	NF	07	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
23	NF	10	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	-	-
24	NM	09	Gingivitis	PD	-	-
25	NF	07	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
26	NM	14	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
27	NF	10	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
28	NF	14	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	-
29	NF	08	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
30	NF	10	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
31	NF	07	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	-
32	NF	08	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
33	NM	05	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
34	NF	05	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
35	NF	07	Gingivitis	PD	-	-
36	NM	05	Gingivitis	PD	-	-
37	NM	06	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
38	IM	08mg	Gingivitis	PD	-	-
39	NF	16	Periodontitis	PD	-	-
40	NF	15	Periodontitis	PD	+	-
41	NF	15	Periodontitis	PD	+	-
42	NF	07	Gingivitis	PD	-	-
43	NF	06	Stomatitis/periodontitis	FCG/PD	+	+

• ^a
  FIV = Feline immunodeficiency virus, ^b FeLV = feline leukemia virus, ^c IM = intact male, ^d NM = neutered male, ^e NF = neutered female, ^f NI = not informed, ^g m = months, ^h FCG = feline chronic gingivostomatitis, PD = periodontal disease, ^j (+) = positive, ^k (-) = negative.

Blood samples (3mL) were collected from the jugular vein following tricotomy and antisepsis and stored in tubes containing EDTA and serum separation tubes for further detection of anti-FIV antibodies and FeLV antigens (SNAP Combo FeLV/FIV; IDEXX Laboratories). Sensitivity and specificity test values were 100 and 98.6% for the FeLV antigen and 99.2 and 100% for the anti-FIV antibody, respectively (Burling et al. 2017). No confirmatory laboratory tests were performed.

The cats were identified in individual records containing information on age, sex, breed, neuter status, rearing system, findings of the oral examination, and test results for retrovirus infections.

As for the age variable, the cats were classified into the following groups: kittens (≤1 year), adults (>1 and ≤9 years), and elderly (>9 years) (Martins 2016). Regarding neuter status, the animals were classified as sexually intact or neutered. Unknown ages were recorded as not informed (Table 1).

With respect to the rearing system, the cats were either freely raised with access to the streets or restricted to the shelter’s facilities at all times.

Information regarding gender, neuter status, age, oral cavity lesions, diagnoses, and test results for FIV and FeLV infections are shown in percentage (%).

Results

Three shelters located in three different municipalities in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, with a total population of 92 felines, were evaluated. Of these, 43 cats with oral cavity lesions were included in the study distributed as follows: 11 (100%) animals from Shelter 1, 27 (36.49%) from Shelter 2, and five (71.42%) from Shelter 3.

Of the 43 cats that composed the study sample, the age of 31 (72.09%) animals was informed by the owners: one (3.22%) was a kitten, 21 (67.74%) were adults, and nine (29.03%) were elderly. Their age varied from eight months to 16 years (median = 9). The owners were unable to inform the age of 12 cats (27.91%) (Table 1).

As for gender, 24/43 (55.81%) were females and 19/43 (44.19%) were males. Regarding neuter status, 8/43 cats (18.60%) were sexually intact (one female and seven males) and 35/43 (81.40%) were neutered (12 males and 23 females). All 43 felines evaluated (100%) were mixed breed (MB).

Among the 43 cats with clinically evident oral cavity lesions, 29 (67.44%) presented a single type of lesion, namely, gingivitis, six (13.95%) (Fig.1);stomatitis, one (2.32%) (Fig.2);periodontitis, 22 (51.16%) (Fig.3). Dual oral infection, stomatitis and periodontitis, was observed in the 14 (32.56%) remaining cats (100%) (Table 1).

Fig.1.
Mild gingival hyperemia (gingivitis) in shelter cat from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Fig.2.
Bilateral ulceroproliferative lesions in shelter cat from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, in the oral caudal and lateral mucosa of the palatoglossal arches indicative of caudal stomatitis (gingivostomatitis) and presence of dental calculus in the maxillary teeth (periodontitis).

Fig.3.
Severe inflammation of the gingiva in shelter cat from the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, with gingival retraction and dental calculus deposition, evident in the 4th left maxillary pre-molar, which characterizes periodontal disease (periodontitis).

With respect to the test results for retrovirus infections, nine (20.93%) out of the 43 felines tested positive solely for FIV and none presented solely FeLV infection. Concomitant infection (co-infection) with FIV and FeLV was observed in seven cats (16.28%) (Table 2). Out of the 27 retrovirus-seronegative cats, six (22.22%) presented gingivitis; one (3.70%), stomatitis; 14 (51.85%), periodontitis; and seven (25.92%), stomatitis/periodontitis (Table 1).

Table 2.
Types of oral lesion and test results for retrovirus infections of the 43 felines from shelters in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Type of oral lesion	Cat no. a	FIVb (+)c	FIV (-)d	FIV/FeLVe (+)	FIV/FeLV (-)
Gingivitis	06 (13.96%)	--	06 (22.22%)	--	06 (22.22%)
Stomatitis	01 (2.32%)	--	--	01 (14.28%)	--
Periodontitis	22 (51.16%)	06 (66.66%)	14 (51.85%)	02 (28.57%)	14 (51.85%)
Stomatitis/periodontitis	14 (32.56%)	03 (33.34%)	07 (25.92%)	04 (57.14%)	07 (25.92%)
TOTAL	43 (100%)	09 (20.93%)	27 (62.79%)	07 (16.27%)	27 (62.79%)

• ^a
  None of the cats tested positive solely for FeLV, ^b FIV = feline immunodeficiency virus, ^c (+) = positive, ^d (-) =negative, ^e FeLV = feline leukemia virus.

With regard to association of oral cavity lesions with FIV and/or FeLV seropositivity, of the six cats with gingivitis, none were FIV- or FeLV-positive and one animal with stomatitis was FIV and FeLV-positive. Of the 22 felines with periodontitis, six were FIV-positive and two were FIV- and FeLV-positive. Of the 14 cats with stomatitis and periodontitis, three were FIV-positive and four were FIV- and FeLV-positive (Table 2).

PD alone was observed in 28 cats (65.1%); GS alone was found in one animal (2.32%), and DP and GS was verified in 14 felines (32.5%) (Table 1).

As for the rearing system, 16 cats (59.25%) lived freely, whereas 27 (40.75%) were raised restricted to the shelters.

Discussion

Inclusion criteria for oral evaluation were based on the owners’ observation of changes in the animals’ behavior during feeding, such as difficulty grasping, dysphagia and/or sialorrhea - altogether, these symptoms were observed in 43 cats. Although the study initially proposed to perform oral examination in all cats, this did not occur in the entire population (92 cats) because of difficulty to seize them and lack of authorization on the part of owners.

The cats included in this study were aged eight months to 16 years (median = 9); owners were unable to inform the age of 12 cats (27.91%) (Table 2). In a study conducted by Tenorio et al. (1991), which assessed chronic oral cavity infections in cats and their association with calicivirus, FIV, and FeLV, the animals’ age varied from one to 18 years, and FeLV and calicivirus positivity was observed in young animals, whereas FIV was observed in adults. Kornya et al. (2014), in determining the association of test results positive for retrovirus infections with occurrence of oral cavity lesions in cats, observed that increased age was associated with higher prevalence of inflammatory oral disease in retrovirus-negative cats. Findings of the present study do not allow association between age range and test results for retrovirus infections, as the age of most of the FIV- and FeLV-positive cats was unknown. However, all FIV-positive cats were adults or elderly, and the only FeLV-positive cat whose age was known was an adult (Table 1).

FIV is mainly transmitted through biting, where the virus present in the saliva of an infected cat is inoculated into the blood stream of a healthy cat (Sellon & Hartmann 2012, Hagiwara et al. 2016). Adult sexually intact males with access to the streets constitute the main group at risk of infection (Levy et al. 2006) because of their aggressive behavior (Hosie et al. 2009, Grace 2011). In this study, 14 (87.50%) of 16 cats (37.20%) freely reared were FIV-positive. Of these, six (42.85%) were sexually intact males, one (7.14%) was a neutered male, and three (21.42%) were neutered females. Only two (7.41%) neutered females reared restricted to shelter (n=27) tested positive for FIV. The neutered females with access to the street may have become infected because of their aggressive behavior or during mating, following a bite from an infected male, prior to their spaying.

The owners’ lifestyle, hygiene measures, and socioeconomic profile may have influenced the prevalence of retroviral infections. In this study, a shelter with 11 cats had five (45.45%) FIV-positive animals and six (54.55%) FIV- and FeLV-positive animals. Another shelter with five cats evaluated in this study had two (40%) FIV-positive animals and one (20%) FIV- and FeLV-positive animal. These shelters reared cats freely, with access to the street, and the owners’ socioeconomic status was apparently low. In contrast, among the felines reared restricted to the shelter (n=27), only two cats were FIV-positive. Due to the socioeconomic status of their owners, they lived under more appropriate hygiene and handling conditions compared with those in the two other shelters - most of the animals were even submitted to deworming schedules.

Cats infected with FIV present different clinical symptoms, such as chronic rhinitis, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, glomerulonephritis (Hosie et al. 2009), and chronic gingivostomatitis, which affects more than 50% of FIV-positive cats (Hosie et al. 2009, Hartmann 2011). Another study conducted with 826 cats naturally infected with FIV reported that the most prevalent syndromes associated with seropositive cats were chronic gingivostomatitis, neoplasm, ocular inflammation, and anemia (Levy 2000). In the present study, of the 15 cats with FCG, two (13.33%) were FIV-positive and five (33.33%) were FIV- and FeLV-positive (co-infection).

PD is characterized by inflammation of the periodontal tissues. Initially, it affects the gingiva (gingivitis) and then other tissues, including the cementum-periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone (periodontitis) (Logan 2006, Perry & Tutt 2015). FCG is a chronic oral disease characterized by ulcerative and/or proliferative lesions beginning in the mucogingival junction (Perry & Tutt 2015). In this study, of the 43 cats with oral lesions, 28 (65.1%) presented solely PD, one (2.32%) had solely FCG, and 14 (32.5%) showed PD and FCG. It is also worth noting that of the 15 cats with gingivostomatitis, 14 (93.3%) presented concomitant periodontal disease, which reiterates the hypothesis of PD being a cause of FCG (Gioso 2003, Winer et al. 2016).

Progression of PD is determined by the microorganism’s virulence combined with the host’s immunological response (Nisengard et al. 2006). Individuals with compromised immunological response present more severe periodontal diseases (Wiggs & Lopprise 1997). In humans, the immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and stress are considered risk factors for periodontitis. In cats, it is believed that oral cavity lesions occur in individuals infected with FIV and/or FeLV because of the systemic immunosuppressing effect of these viruses, which hinders resistance to pathogens (Arzi et al. 2008). In this study, of the 42 cats with PD (Table 1), 12 (28.57%) were FIV-positive and six were FIV- and FeLV-positive (14.28%), which probably contributed to the increased severity of this lesion in seropositive cats.

The impossibility of evaluating all of the 92 cats reared in the three assessed shelters, which precluded the analysis of the retrovirus tests in cats that may not have presented oral lesions, as well as the non-identification of the age of 11 FIV- and/or FeLV-positive cats, were limiting factors of this study, which hindered association of the oral cavity lesions and test results for retrovirus infections with the animals’ age range. Additionally, not performing confirmatory tests and, consequently, the possibility of false positive results, also limited the scope of this study, as mentioned by Levy et al. (2006) and Kornya et al. (2014).

This research observed that the six cats with gingivitis were retrovirus-seronegative, which suggests that this type of lesion may be related to other causes (Perry & Tutt 2015, Möstl et al. 2013). Of the 22 cats (51.16%) presenting periodontitis, six were seropositive for FIV and two for FIV and FeLV. Of the 14 felines (32.56%) presenting stomatitis and periodontitis, three were seropositive for FIV and four for FIV and FeLV (Table 2). None of the cats presenting oral cavity lesions were solely FeLV-positive. Predominance of FIV-positive cats with periodontitis, associated or not with stomatitis, coincides with the findings reported by Kornya et al. (2014), who found association of FIV-positive cats with this type of lesion. Also noteworthy is the significant rate of co-infection observed in the present study, as seven (43.75%) of 16 cats with retroviral infection were both FIV- and FeLV-positive. Conversely, Kornya et al. (2014), upon determining association of oral health with FIV and FeLV seropositivity, considered this type of condition to be uncommon.

Association of chronic oral lesions with retroviruses in felines remains controversial (Knowles et al. 1989, Tenorio et al. 1991, Quimby et al. 2008, Kornya et al. 2014, Rolim et al. 2016). Although this study did not associate oral lesions with the test results for retrovirus infections, it was verified that of 43 cats with oral cavity lesions, nine were FIV-positive and seven were both FIV- and FeLV-positive. Therefore, it is believed that retrovirus seropositivity may have contributed to and increased the severity of oral cavity lesions in these 16 cats, as the 27 (62.79%) remaining felines were seronegative and presented the same types of oral cavity lesions. Thus, even if association had been found, other factors such as overcrowding, inadequate sanitary conditions, dietary imbalance, and stress (Pedersen & Wastlhuber 1991, Foley 2012, Möstl et al. 2013) were also observed in the study population and must be considered in the occurrence of oral cavity lesions in shelter cats.

Conclusions

The results obtained show that the main oral cavity lesions found in shelter cats in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state were gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontitis.

Periodontitis, associated or not with stomatitis, was the most frequently observed oral cavity lesion in the FIV- and/or FeLV-positive cats.

Other factors may contribute to the occurrence of inflammatory oral disease in shelter cats because most cats with oral cavity lesions tested negative for retrovirus infections.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  30 Sept 2019
• Date of issue
  July 2019

History

• Received
  31 Oct 2018
• Accepted
  12 Feb 2019