Association Study on Risk Factors for Major Infectious Diseases in Dogs and Cats in Shenzhen, China

This study investigated the prevalence of 11 common pathogens in dogs and cats in Shenzhen, China, from January 2022 to March 2024, aiming to enhance the understanding of their epidemiological characteristics for improved disease control strategies. Diagnostic testing for the target pathogens was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), colloidal gold test strips, or fluorescence immunoassay. Statistical analysis revealed that among 13,134 cats, Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV) showed the highest prevalence (35.83%), followed by Feline Calicivirus (FCV, 26.20%), Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV, 22.00%), and Feline Herpesvirus (FHV, 15.76%). Among 3626 dogs, Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) were predominant, showing a prevalence of 54.55% and 42.83%, respectively. Risk factor analysis showed that most infections occurred in unvaccinated animals and young individuals (<1 year old), with higher incidences in winter and spring. Logistic regression indicated that sex, age, and season were significantly associated with FPV, FHV, and FIPV infections, while age and season were associated with FCV, CPV, and CDV infections (sex showed no association). This study contributes to the epidemiological knowledge of common infectious diseases in dogs and cats, providing a theoretical basis for disease prevention in dogs and cats.