Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) in captive wild felids in Thailand during 2004-2005.

Retrospective study for prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection was examined in captive felids in Wildlife Conservation Division of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Department of Thailand. During 2004-2005, these captive wild felids were recovered from smuggling and out-law trading. Thirty blood samples were collected from 12 tigers, 4 leopards, 2 clouded leopards, 3 fishing cats and 9 leopard cats, and examined the presence of FeLV p27 antigen in the serum samples by the rapid immunomigration (RIM) test kit. Two (6.67%) of 30 feline blood samples were positive for FeLV by RIM. Furthermore, proviral DNA was amplified and examined by nested PCR. Twenty of the samples (66.67%) were positive. Also, in this study a total of 8 spleen and/or lymph-node tissues were collected from 8 death felids over several months in freezer. Proviral DNA was amplified and it was found that one of 8 post-mortem samples (12.5%) was positive by nested PCR.