Med. Weter. 82 (12), 622-627, 2026
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| BUSE YÜCEL, YASIN ŞENEL |
| Prevalence and Co-infection Patterns of Major Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Complex in Central Anatolia, Türkiye |
| Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) complex is a multifactorial syndrome caused by various viral and bacterial pathogens, with limited comprehensive prevalence data available from Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of major pathogens – Feline herpesvirus (FHV), Feline calicivirus (FCV), Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydia felis, and Mycoplasma felis – in cats displaying URTI signs in Central Anatolia, Türkiye, and to evaluate associations with demographic factors, clinical signs, and co-infections. Nasal, ocular, and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 100 cats presented to veterinary clinics in Ankara and Kırıkkale. Real-time PCR was performed for pathogen detection. Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests, and Phi coefficient analysis. FCV was the most prevalent pathogen (76%), followed by M. felis (50%), FHV (28%), C. felis (8%), and B. bronchiseptica (4%). At least one pathogen was identified in 82% of cats, with co-infections (≥ 2 pathogens) detected in 59% of cases. The most common co-infection pattern was FCV + M. felis (30%). Significant associations were found between FCV and M. felis (p = 0.0019, Phi = 0.3278) and between M. felis and C. felis (p = 0.0058). FHV prevalence was significantly higher in stray cats (33.8% vs. 5%, p < 0.05) and varied across age groups (p = 0.012). Ocular discharge was significantly associated with FHV (p = 0.018), while stertorous breathing was associated with M. felis (p = 0.048). Co-infection rates were higher in intact (62.6%) and stray cats (65.0%). FCV and M. felis dominate the URTI complex etiology in Central Anatolia, with frequent non-random co-infections. These findings support a multi-agent diagnostic approach and highlight the need for region-specific preventive strategies.. |
| Keywords: FCV, Feline URTI complex, Mycoplasma felis, real-time PCR |