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The infections caused by feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency (fiv) viruses, are relevant in Feline Medicine due to the severe complications of the disease and related pathologies in domestic cats. This study describes clinical findings related to FeLV and fiv, regressive FeLV infections and identification of prevalent FeLV genotypes in domestic cats from Mérida, Yucatán, México. Hundred domestic cats with clinical manifestations of diseases associated with feline retrovirus infection in veterinary centers in Mérida, were submitted to a general physical examination, venipuncture to collect blood, and a quantitative hemogram. Detection of antigen (FeLV) and antibody (fiv) was used to estimate infection frequency. The percentage of regressive FeLV infections was determined by pcr of an env gene segment. Some FeLV amplified products were sequenced with the Sanger method and used to construct a phylogenetic tree. The predominant FeLV and fiv clinical infection findings were gingivitis, gingivostomatitis, periodontal disease and anemia. We found a 10% infection frequency for FeLV by antigen detection, and 17% for fiv by antibodies detection. pcr frequency detection for FeLV was 58%, and 52% were regressive infections. The phylogenetic analysis identified sequences associated with FeLV-A, and endogenous or recombinant FeLV that had not previously been identified in México. The frequency of infection by both retroviruses was higher in Mérida, Yucatán, than those described in previous studies. Cats with FeLV predominantly had regressive infections, but the role that endogenous or recombinant retroviruses play in disease development remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse the participation of women of reproductive age in a cancer screening program, and survey reasons for non-screening in a region from Mexico with high cervical cancer mortality. A total of 281 obstetric patients from a previous HPV study in a social security hospital during 2008-2009 were included. Reasons for not participating in the screening were directly asked. HPV positive patients were invited to participate in an informative workshop, and they filled in a knowledge questionnaire. The women ranged in age from 14-47 years; 123 (43.8%) had never participated in screening, of which 97 (78.9%) had their first sexual intercourse 2 to 10 years ago, resulting in 25% HPV positive. Screening history was strongly associated with 2 or more gestations (OR= 10.07, p=0.00) and older age (OR=6.69 p=0.00). When 197 women were contacted and interviewed, reasons referred for non-screening were ignorance, lack of interest or time, recent sexual onset, shame and fear. More than 50% of the workshop participants showed knowledge of HPV, while 38.9% and 25% knew about Pap smear and cervical cancer. A high percentage of women of reproductive age have never had a Pap smear. Promoting the screening program in medical facilities seems to be important in this population. New approaches to inform vulnerable individuals on the benefits of screening need to be implemented, especially for young women.