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| | ==Introduction== | | ==Introduction== |
| | [[Image:Kinetics of FeLV 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kinetics of FeLV - Copyright Dr Brian Catchpole BVetMed PhD MRCVS]] | | [[Image:Kinetics of FeLV 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kinetics of FeLV - Copyright Dr Brian Catchpole BVetMed PhD MRCVS]] |
| − | *Oncogenic retrovirus
| + | FeLV is an ncogenic retrovirus which causes neoplasia (lymphoma), myelosuppression (anaemia) and immunosuppression (of [[Lymphocytes#T cells|T cells]]). Three different strains are currently recognised: |
| − | *Causes neoplasia (lymphoma), myelosuppression (anaemia) and immunosuppression (of [[Lymphocytes#T cells|T cells]])
| + | *FeLV-A -natural strain |
| − | *2 strains:
| + | *FeLV-B which formed through FeLV-A recombining with endogenous retroviral sequences in the feline genome. |
| − | **FeLV-A
| + | *FeLV-C which formed from the spontaneous mutation of FeLV-A |
| − | ***Natural strain
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| − | **FeLV-B
| + | The virus replicates in the oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue causing a viraemia (virus circulating in the bloodstream) which then spreads to the systemic lymphoid tissue. |
| − | ***Formed through FeLV-A recombining with endogenous retroviral sequences in the feline genome
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| − | ***Increases the risks of lymphoma
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| − | **FeLV-C
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| − | ***Formed from the spontaneous mutation of FeLV-A
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| − | ***Is more myelosuppressive
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| − | *Virus replicates in the oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue causing a viraemia (virus circulating in the bloodstream) which then spreads to the systemic lymphoid tissue
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| − | *Shed in saliva
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| − | *Passed by oronasal route, e.g. mutual grooming
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| − | *Kittens between 6 weeks and 6 months are most susceptible
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| − | *60% of cats will become immune to the disease and recover
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| − | *Cats that are persistently viraemic will progress to develop FeLV-associated diseases
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| − | *Some cats will become viraemic again if treated with corticosteroids or stressed if the infection lies dormant in the [[Bone Marrow - Anatomy & Physiology|bone marrow]]
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| | ==Pathogenesis== | | ==Pathogenesis== |