Identification of an Island-Specific Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Lineage on Kikaijima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

Saito, Namiko; Ito, Keiko; Saito, Akatsuki

doi:10.51094/jxiv.6338

##article.authors##

Saito, Namiko Laboratory for Viral Infection Control, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki
Ito, Keiko Amami Inmaya Animal Hospital
Saito, Akatsuki Laboratory for Viral Infection Control, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2792-4399

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51094/jxiv.6338

キーワード:

feline leukemia virus、 Kikaijima Island、 phylogenetic analysis、 island epidemiology、 viral clade

抄録

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a major retroviral pathogen affecting domestic cats worldwide. However, the viral epidemiology and genetic characteristics of FeLV in geographically isolated island populations in Japan remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, blood samples from 48 cats (16 free-roaming cats, 13 shelter cats, and 19 pet cats) on Kikaijima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, were screened for FeLV DNA. Real-time PCR targeting the LTR region revealed an overall FeLV positivity rate of 12.5% (6/48). Notably, positive cases were detected exclusively in shelter cats (23.1%, 3/13) and pet cats (15.8%, 3/19), whereas all free-roaming cats tested negative (0.0%, 0/16). Phylogenetic analysis based on the env gene sequences demonstrated that all six Kikaijima isolates belonged to Genotype I and formed a distinct, highly conserved island-specific clade, separate from reference strains originating from mainland Japan.

These findings suggest localized transmission and genetic differentiation of FeLV on Kikaijima Island, underscoring the importance of FeLV screening before introducing cats into multi-cat environments and appropriate management of cat movement to limit viral dissemination.

利益相反に関する開示

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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