FeLv
The clinical signs of disease are going to be variable because so many body systems can be affected. Loss of appetite, fever, weight loss, and weakness are the first signs most commonly seen in infected cats.
It is estimated that 2-3% of apparently healthy cats are infected with FeLV.
What is feline leukemia?
Feline leukemia is a cancerous disease caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FeLV causes diseases other than leukemia including immunodeficiency and additional cancers. Cats may not start to show signs of disease for months or years after being infected with FeLV. Infection with FeLV is a major cause of illness and death in domestic cats.
What are the characteristics of feline leukemia virus?
FeLV is a type of virus called a retrovirus. That puts it in the same family as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS).
Retroviruses are species-specific. This means a feline retrovirus will only infect cats; a human retrovirus will only infect humans.
Retroviruses are made up of RNA. In the virus carried cat, the RNA is transcribed into DNA and incorporated into the DNA of the virus carried cat's cells.
Retroviruses are fragile, being easily inactivated by ultraviolet light, heat, detergents, and drying.
Retroviruses are widespread in nature. As a matter of fact, they have been around for so many millions of years, parts of a feline retrovirus are actually incorporated into every cat's DNA. This is called "endogenous" FeLV DNA. This is passed from generation to generation.
There are three subgroups of FeLV and each tends to cause a different type of disease:
1. FeLV-A is found in all naturally infected cats and is easily transmitted. For this reason, this is the FeLV we use for making vaccines against FeLV.
2. FeLV-B is found in about ½ of naturally infected cats. It is formed when FeLV-A combines with the endogenous FeLV DNA.
3. FeLV-C is rare. FeLV-C results from mutations of FeLV-A.
How common is FeLV infection?
It is estimated that 2-3% of healthy cats are infected with FeLV. Approximately ¼ to ½ of the healthy cats living in infected multi-cat households and catteries are infected.
How is the FeLV transmitted?
Large amounts of FeLV are excreted in the saliva. Therefore, the most common mode of transmission is through nose-to-nose contact, mutual grooming, and shared food and water bowls. Bites are a very efficient way to transmit FeLV.
FeLV can also be found in lesser amounts in tears, urine, and feces. Thus litter boxes could be a source of infection in multi-cat households or catteries.
FeLV can also be transmitted across the placenta (in utero) and through the milk.
It takes large amounts of virus to infect an adult cat, so usually prolonged contact is necessary for transmission.
What happens to a cat after being exposed to FeLV?
If the cat becomes infected from the exposure, 2-4 weeks later, in the acute stage of infection, large numbers of the virus can be found in the bloodstream (viremia). Cats in the acute phase usually do not show signs of disease. If they do, the signs are usually mild fever, slight lethargy, and swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). When an adult cat is exposed to FeLV, four things can happen:
1. Approximately 30% of adult cats will not be infected due to inadequate exposure.
2. 30-35% of adult cats have a transient infection; over the course of 6 months or so, the cats will eventually kill all of the virus.
3. 5-10% of adult cats will develop latent infections; these cats will not be able to kill all the virus, but will be able to hold it in check. This is called a latent infection. These cats usually show no signs of infection and usually do not shed virus in their saliva or other body secretions. Queens however, may still pass the virus in utero or through the milk.
4. 30% of adult cats will become persistently infected; these cats will not develop an adequate immune response and will remain permanently infected with FeLV. These are the cats who will become ill and die of FeLV-related diseases, usually within 2-3 years of infection. These cats will shed large amounts of virus in their saliva.
Age is a very important factor in determining what will happen after a cat is exposed to FeLV. Almost all FeLV-exposed kittens less than 8 weeks of age will have persistent viremia and show signs of disease during the acute phase. As kittens get older, there is the probability of becoming persistently infected after exposure lessens, until it reaches approximately 30% in adulthood.
The prevalence of FeLV infection is highest in cats between 1 and 6 years of age, with a mean age of 3 years. Males are 1-½ times more likely to be infected than females. This may be due to the frequency in which intact males roam and fight.
How is infection with FeLV treated?
FeLV-infected cats can sometimes live for years. Stress and exposure to ill animals should be avoided. FeLV-positive cats should be kept indoors both to protect them from exposure to disease and also to prevent them from spreading FeLV to other cats.
By knowing a cat is FeLV-positive, your veterinarian may select different vaccination protocols, preventive care, and treatments of other diseases than for an uninfected cat. Any sign of disease will require early recognition and aggressive treatment.
Clinically ill FeLV cats will need to be treated according to the signs of disease they are showing.
How is feline leukemia prevented and controlled?
Vaccination: There are a number of FeLV vaccines. None of them produce 100% protection. Almost all of them are derived from inactivated (killed) virus or portions of the virus.
In general, it is recommended that cats who go outdoors, to shows, are boarded, or otherwise have contact with cats other than those in their household should be vaccinated against FeLV. Remember, all cats should be FeLV-tested before they are vaccinated. Cats who are entirely indoors may not need to be vaccinated against FeLV. This is something you should discuss with your veterinarian.
Limiting Exposure: As mentioned above, FeLV vaccines do not produce 100% protection. It is essential that the risk of exposure of a FeLV-negative cat to a potentially FeLV-positive cat be minimized. In single cat households this is best accomplished by keeping the cat indoors.
In catteries and multi-cat households:
Test all cats for FeLV.
Remove all FeLV-positive cats or totally separate them from the other cats.
Disinfect all dishes, litter boxes, and bedding. Remember, FeLV can be transmitted through saliva, urine, and feces.
Prevent or minimize the movement of cats in and out of the household or cattery.
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