felis - Articles
Feline leukemia virus
Synonym(s): Feline leukaemia virus, FeLV
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Family: Retroviridae.
- Group: Gammaretrovirus.
- Subtypes A ,B, C, and T determined by host cell spectrum.
Etymology
- Retro because the viral RNA is reverse transcribed into DNA (proviral DNA).
Distribution
- Worldwide.
- 0.5-1% prevalence in healthy cats in the UK.
- Higher prevalence in sick cats.
- In multicat households with endemic FeLV, 30-40% will develop persistent viremia.
Significance
- 3 disease syndromes:
- Immunosuppression.
- Proliferative (neoplasia, leukemia).
- Degenerative (anemia, leukopenia).
- In cat:
- Immunosuppressive.
- Oncogenic, causing T-cell lymphosarcomas Lymphoma.
- Reproductive failure: abortion, failure to conceive.
- Anemia Anemia: overview.
- Enteritis.
- In human:
- Not zoonotic (Nowotny et al, 1995).
- Other species:
- Does not infect non-felidae.
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Resting Forms
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Clinical Effects
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Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Lutz H, Addie A, Belák S et al (2009) Feline leukaemia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg 11 (7), 565-574 PubMed.
- Muirden A (2002) Prevalence of feline leukaemia virus and antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus and feline coronavirus in stray cats sent to an RSPCA hospital. Vet Rec 150 (20), 621-625 PubMed.
- Dawson S, Gaskell R & Jarrett O S (1999) Vaccination in cats - an update. In Practice 21 (2), 71-74 VetMedResource.
- Nowotny N, Uthman A, Haas O A et al (1995) Is it possible to catch leukaemia from a cat? The Lancet 346 (8969), 252-253 PubMed.
- Squires R & Gorman N T (1990) Antineoplastic chemotherapy in cats. In Practice 12 (3), 101-111 VetMedResource.
- Pacitti A M, Jarrett O, Hay D (1986) Transmission of feline leukaemia virus in the milk of a non-viraemic cat. Vet Rec 118 (14), 381-384 PubMed.
Other sources of information
- Jarrett O (1994) Feline leukaemia virus. In: Feline Medicine and Therapeutics. Chandler E A, Gaskell C J, Gaskell R M (eds). Blackwell Science, Oxford, OX2 OEL. pp 473-487.
- McCaw D L (1994) Advances in therapy for retroviral infections. In: Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. August J R (ed). pp 21-25.
Organization(s)
- Companion Animal Diagnostics,Veterinary Diangostic Services, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland. Tel: + 44 141 330 5777; Fax: + 44 141 330 5748; E-mail: companion@vet.gla.ac.uk .
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Bristol University, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS18 7DU.
- European Advisory Board on Cat diseases (ABCD): www.abcd-vets.org .