Prevalence and pathogenicity of retroviruses in wildcats in France

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FlV) are f requently encountered in domestic cats (Felis catus) and in wild felids, bu t only FeLV has been previously identified in wildcats (Felis silvestris). Thirty-eight wildcats, either captured alive or found dead, were sampled in eastern and central France. Nine of them (23.7 per cent) carried the FeLV p27 antigen, and three (7.9 per cent) had antibodies to FlV. There was a si gnificant relationship between two measures of body condition and FeLV stat us; the FeLV-positive cats being in poorer condition than the FelV-negative cats. The results suggest that FeLV is common in wildcats and may increase mortality in this species. The FlV-positive results constitute the first i ndication of a FlV-related virus in wildcats.