Feral Cat Populations and Feline Retrovirus Prevalence in San Mateo County, California in Three Time Periods between 2001 and 2016

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The prevalence of feline retroviruses in San Mateo County, California was unknown in 2004. Published prevalence in studies worldwide has varied widely, and veterinary guidelines for management of retrovirus-positive cats have not addressed feral cats. This study examined retrovirus prevalence in feral cats presented to a large humane society’s spay/neuter clinic over a 15-year period, in the setting of population trends in the shelter’s total and feral cat admissions, and numbers of cats presented for spay/neuter procedures. The prevalence differed from earlier studies in Florida and North Carolina (higher for one retrovirus and lower for another), even as feral cat and total cat presentations decreased in San Mateo County, suggesting that retrovirus surveillance should continue in this area. ABSTRACT: This study was initiated in 2004 because the prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections in feral cats in San Mateo County (SMC) was not known. The cities attributed to the feral cat population presented to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Spay/Neuter Clinic and to the Shelter itself were analyzed to examine potential geographic concentrations of feral cats with positive retroviral status. Trends in FIV and FeLV status were examined in three 3-year periods (2001–2003, 2005–2007, and 2014–2016). Population trends over the 15 years of this study for feral cats admitted to the Shelter were also examined. In each study period, more female feral cats were presented to the S/N Clinic (54.06%, 57.37%, 54.89%). FIV prevalence increased from 5.52% to 6.41% (p = 0.29) from the first to third period; FeLV prevalence decreased significantly from 1.73% to 0.29% (p = 0.01). Significantly more FIV-positive males than females were identified each year and for each period (p < 0.01). The four largest SMC cities were the major source of feral cats to the Shelter, S/N Clinic, and of FIV- and FeLV-positive cats in the first two periods; in the third period, 50% of feral cats to the Shelter and of FeLV-positive cats were from these cities. Despite a 61.63% reduction in feral cat admissions to the S/N Clinic, the FIV prevalence for males remained similar and increased for females. The retrovirus prevalence suggests the need for continued testing and surveillance of FIV among SMC free-living cats.