Feline viruses in wildcats from Scotland

Few data are available an the prevalence of feline viruses in European wild cats (Felis silvestris). Previous surveys have indicated that wildcats may be infected with the common viruses of domestic cats, apart from feline imm unodeficiency virus (FIV). In the present study, 50 wildcats trapped throug hout Scotland (UK) between August 1992 and January 1997 were tested for evi dence of viral infection. All were negative for FIV by several serological or virological methods. By contrast, 10% of the cats were positive for feli ne leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and infectious virus was isolated from 13% of a smaller subset. Of the wildcats tested for respiratory viruses, 25% y ielded feline calicivirus (FCV) and although no feline herpesvirus was isol ated, 16% of the samples had neutralizing antibodies to this virus. Antibod ies to feline coronavirus (FCoV) were found in 6% of samples. Feline foamy virus (FFV) was an incidental finding in 33% of samples tested. This study confirms that wildcats in Scotland are commonly infected with the major vir uses of the domestic cat, except for FIV.