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Also known as '''''FeLV
Also known as '''''FeLV
====Antigenicity====
==Introduction==
==Pathogenesis==
*FeLV is the "disease of friends": transmission usually occurs through '''mutual grooming'''
*FeLV is the "disease of friends": transmission usually occurs through '''mutual grooming'''
*From the oropharynx, virus spreads to most tissues in the body to replicate, notably:
*From the oropharynx, virus spreads to most tissues in the body to replicate, notably:
*40% of exposed adults remain healthy and develop Ab and CD8+ Tcells after clearing the virus, without becoming reinfected or silent carriers
*40% of exposed adults remain healthy and develop Ab and CD8+ Tcells after clearing the virus, without becoming reinfected or silent carriers
Clinical Signs:
==Clinical Signs==
*'''Leukemia'''
*'''Leukemia'''
*'''Multicentric lymphosarcoma''': B or T cell tumors, which may be palpable as enlarged lymph nodes (particularly mesenteric)
*'''Multicentric lymphosarcoma''': B or T cell tumors, which may be palpable as enlarged lymph nodes (particularly mesenteric)
*'''Reproductive failure''': FeLV crosses the placenta, causing fetal resorption or viremic kittens with thymic aplasia
*'''Reproductive failure''': FeLV crosses the placenta, causing fetal resorption or viremic kittens with thymic aplasia
==Epidemiology==
*Vertical transmission of FeLV-A from mother to kittens either via placenta, grooming, or milk
*Vertical transmission of FeLV-A from mother to kittens either via placenta, grooming, or milk
*Horizontal transmission occurs via saliva during mutual grooming
*Horizontal transmission occurs via saliva during mutual grooming
*Particular concern for intensively bred cats because of crowding, etc.
*Particular concern for intensively bred cats because of crowding, etc.
====Diagnosis====
==Antigenicity==
*Main envelope protein: gp70
*3 antigenic subgroups:
*Group A
**is transmitted between cats
**is monotypic: one vaccine covers all isolates
**causes '''lymphosarcoma'''
*Group B:
**is recombinant with transmissible FeLV-A
**increases the chance of '''thymic tumors'''
*Group C:
**is a mutant of A
**isolates are rare, and occur as A+C mixtures
**increases chances of '''anemia'''
==Diagnosis==
*FeLV should be suspect in any cat with '''recurrent bacterial infections''', '''anemia''' or '''weight loss'''
*FeLV should be suspect in any cat with '''recurrent bacterial infections''', '''anemia''' or '''weight loss'''
*'''ELISA''' for '''Antigen''' (capsid protein p27 or envelope protein gp70)
*'''ELISA''' for '''Antigen''' (capsid protein p27 or envelope protein gp70)
*'''Immunochromatography''' is now trusted as ELISA testing can give false positives
*'''Immunochromatography''' is now trusted as ELISA testing can give false positives
*'''Virus isolation''' from heparinised blood can now be performed to confirm a positive diagnosis
*'''Virus isolation''' from heparinised blood can now be performed to confirm a positive diagnosis
ELISA
**Rapid-Immuno-Migration
**Western Blot
**Virus Isolation
**Immunofluorescence
**PCR
====Control====
==Infection Control==
*Antigen positive sick cats should be destroyed
*Antigen positive sick cats should be destroyed
*Healthy positive cats should have diagnosis confirmed
*Healthy positive cats should have diagnosis confirmed
*Cats that are persistently viraemic will progress to develop FeLV-associated diseases
*Cats that are persistently viraemic will progress to develop FeLV-associated diseases
*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]]
*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]]
==Treatment==
**Antibiotics for secondary infection
**Antibiotics for secondary infection
**Anti-retroviral therapy
**Anti-retroviral therapy