Feline leukemia virus

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Sections available in full article Classification, Distribution, Significance, Active Forms, Active Form 1, Clinical Effects, Epidemiology, Pathological effects, Control, Diagnosis, Useful samples, Specimen storage, Transport of samples, Isolation, Field diagnosis, Laboratory diagnosis, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s), Organization(s),
Contributors Dr Susan Dawson BVMS PhD MRCVS
Dr Melissa Kennedy DVM PhD DipACVM
Professor Margaret J Hosie BVMS BSc PhD MRCVS
Professor Brian J Willett BSc PhD
Synonyms Feline leukaemia virus, FeLV

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.

Sources

Publications

  • Recent references fromPubMed.
  • Lutz H, Addie A, Belak S, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Frymus T, Gruffydd-Jones T, Hartmann K, Hosie M J, Lloret A, Marsilio F, Pennisi M G, Radford A D, Thiry E, Truyen U, Horzinek M C (2009)Feline leukaemia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.J Feline Med Surg11(7), 565-574PubMed.
  • 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.
  • Dawson S, Gaskell R & Jarrett O S (1999)Vaccination in cats - an update.In Practice21, 71-74.
  • Nowotny N, Uthman A, Haas O A, Borkhardt A, Lechner K, Egberink H F, Mostl K and Horzinek M C (1995)Is it possible to catch leukaemia from a cat?The Lancet346(22), 252-253.
  • Squires R & Gorman N T (1990)Antineoplastic chemotherapy in cats.In Practice12(3), 101-111.
  • Pacitti A M, Jarrett O, Hay D (1986)Transmission of feline leukaemia virus in the milk of a non-viremic cat.Vet Rec118, 381.

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