Infection with the feline leukemia virus is one of the most classical sicknesses in veterinary medicine. Cats at most eminent chance are young kittens who are often times infected by their mothers or by close contact with other infected cats. unfortunately, 80% of infected cats die within 3 years of virus detection. The most mutual syndrome leading to death is a progressive anemia as the bone shuts down and loses its capacity to invent red blood cells but general immune suppression may result and the virus' capacity to induce a cancer called "lymphoma" is well known. Infected cats may be detected with not complex or complicated in-clinic blood test.
several vaccines are commercially available to prevent infection but no effective treatment has emerged for positive cats.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) remains
one of the most important causes of
disease and death in cats. It causes a
variety of malignancies, but persistent
infection can also cause severe
immunosuppression and profound
anemia. The virus is present worldwide.
Prevention and Control: A test and
removal program to rid catteries and
multicat households of FeLV can be
extremely effective if these guidelines
are carefully followed:
1) All cats should be tested for FeLV
viremia (IFA is best).
2) All viremic cats should be removed.
3) All dishes, litterpans, and bedding
should be disinfected.
4) All movement of cats in and out of the
cattery should be prevented.
5) All cats should be retested after 12
weeks to detect cats that may have been
incubating the virus at the time of the
first test.
6) The quarantine can be lifted when all
cats have tested negative on two
consecutive occasions, 12 weeks apart.
7) All cats should be tested and
quarantined before introduction to the
cattery. Ideally, two tests 12 wk apart
should be done.
8) Breeding should be only to cats
known to be FeLV-negative, and cats
should be introduced only from FeLVnegative
colonies.
FeLV vaccines are intended to protect
cats against FeLV infection or, at least,
to prevent persistent viremia. Types of
vaccines include killed whole virus,
subunit, and genetically engineered.
Vaccines may vary in protective effect,
and manufacturers' claims and
independent comparative studies should
be carefully noted. The following
guidelines for vaccine use have been
recommended:
1) Only healthy, afebrile (no fevers) cats
should be vaccinated.
2) Cats from a high-risk or unknown
background should be tested for FeLV
before vaccination.
3) All cats at risk of exposure to FeLV
should be vaccinated.
4) Positive and Negative cats should be
kept separated, even if the negative cats
have been vaccinated.
Vaccinations are accessible to assure your cat adjoin FeLV. After two doses are administered three weeks apart, your cat will accept adequately acceptable amnesty adjoin infection. I say "fairly good" because no vaccine is 100% effective. Most FeLV vaccines are about 95% able in bodies that accept initially accustomed the two doses three weeks afar and maintained with anniversary boosters. One affair that needs to be mentioned: All bodies should be activated for FeLV antibodies BEFORE vaccination. If your cat is an adulterated carrier of FeLV, anesthetic will not advice bright the action and your cat may advance the ache to added bodies that are not finer protected.
Author Resource:
Heru M writes numerous articles for automotive, pets, gadget health . Please visit our sites pet medicine and pdf search engine
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