Prevalencia de Herpesvirus felino tipo 1 (FHV-1) diagnosticado mediante inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) en gatos comunitarios atendidos en una clínica veterinaria de la ciudad de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is the infectious agent responsible for feline viral rhinotracheitis, a disease associated with respiratory and ocular disorder in cats. The virus is also capable of remaining latent and reactivating under stressful conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of FHV-1 diagnosed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in community cats attended at a veterinary clinic in Guayaquil. A total of 100 community cats were evaluated between May and August 2026. Each animal underwent a clinical examination, and blood samples were collected for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against FHV-1 using the aforementioned diagnostic method. The results were analyzed through descriptive statistics, the two-tailed Irwin-Fisher exact test, and Pearson’s Chi-square test. A total of 22 cats tested positive and 78 tested negative, resulting in prevalence of 22 %. Ocular discharge was the only respiratory clinical sign that showed a statistically significant association with FHV-1 positivity. No statistically significant differences were observed according to sex, age, or body condition. In conclusion, FHV-1 was present in the evaluated community cat population, and ocular discharge was the main clinical sign associated with positivity for the virus.