Feline Leukemia virus causes more deceases in cats than any other disease ( wellness communities, 2001 ) . It affects approximately 2 to 3 % of all cats ( wellness communities, 2001 ) . In this research paper I ‘m traveling to speak about the disease, bar, intervention, marks and symptoms, and the phases of felv.
Feline leukaemia is a type of virus called retrovirus ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . “ All retroviruses produce an enzyme that enables them to infix transcripts of their ain familial stuff into the cells they have infected ” ( Eldredge, Carlson & A ; Carlson, 2007 ) . Cats may non demo marks months or old ages after being infected. “ It is a really common virus, impacting 2 to 3 % of all cats. This virus is more prone to vomit cats ” ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . This virus will merely infect cats since it is a retrovirus, and retroviruses are species specific ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) .
“ It is spread through spit, rhinal secernments, piss, fecal matters, milk from septic cats, sharing a litter box with an septic cat, and common training ” ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . Cats are at greatest hazard if they are exposed to septic cats, allowed out-of-doorss unsupervised, and if kitties are born to infected female parents ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . “ Feline Leukemia weakens the immune system doing the cat to non be able to protect itself from other infections. It besides causes assorted blood upsets ” ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . “ FeLV can do weight loss, febrility, immunodeficiency and infections, anaemia, generative jobs, malignant neoplastic disease unwritten disease, oculus jobs, and thrombocyte upsets ” ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . About 30 % of all infected cats will develop malignant neoplastic disease ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . “ The two chief phases in the virus is Primary Viremia and Secondary Viremia. The primary phase is the earliest phase where the cat is able to
saddle horse an effectual immune response. The secondary phase is the latest phase characterized by infection of the bone marrow and other tissues ” ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . There are 6 phases in the Felv procedure and it takes about 2-6 hebdomads ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . “ The first phase is the virus replicates in the lymphatic tissue in the unwritten pit. The 2nd phase is if the immune system does n’t halt the job it spreads to the white blood cells.
The 3rd phase is the white blood cells spread the virus to the lymph nodes. The 4th phase is the virus spreads to the bone marrow where it will remain the remainder of the cat ‘s life. The 5th phase is white blood cells and thrombocytes which are usually made in the bone marrow pick up the virus and go around it about once more. The 6th phase the virus is spread to the salivary and tear secretory organs and urinary vesica. In this phase it can be spread to other cats ” ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . “ The virus does non populate more than a few hours outside the cat ‘s organic structure, unless it ‘s in a moist environment ” ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) .
Worlds can non acquire FelV but little kids, pregnant adult females, and people with weak immune systems should avoid FelV positive cats ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) .
Preventing Feline Leukemia is the lone manner your cat will non acquire the virus. Here are some ways to forestall the virus. You should acquire your cat vaccinated at a immature age. The vaccinum is given to kitties at 9 hebdomads of age and are reboostered 2 to 4 hebdomads subsequently ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . If you test your cat and it turns out negative, you should acquire your cat re-tested 3-6 months subsequently ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . They are non 100 % effectual ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) , so you should make other things along with the vaccinum to protect your pet. “ The vaccinum should ever be given to cats that unrecorded exterior, or have contact with other cats ” ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . “ All cats should be FelV tested before the vaccinum is given.
If the cat lives indoors, it may non necessitate to be vaccinated ” ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . The Feline Leukemia vaccinum is linked to Fibrosarcoma ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . “ Fibrosarcoma is a tumour of connective tissues ” ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . “ It is estimated that 5.000 to 10,000 vaccinated cats will develop this. ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . Some symptoms of Feline Leukemia are loss of appetency, weight loss, hapless coat status, conceited lymph nodes, relentless febrility, and picket gums ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ).
Feline Leukemia is diagnosed by a blood trial ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . The trial that veterinaries use is the ELISA trial, “ which checks for grounds of the virus in blood, cryings, and spit ” ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . This trial besides checks for FIV ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1998-2010 ) . There is no known intervention and no remedy for the virus. If the cat is positive for Feline Leukemia “ you should maintain it indoors and off from other cats, feed it a good balanced diet, schedule hebdomadal visits with your vet for 6 months ” ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) . Some cats that have this virus live long healthy lives if they receive good intervention ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . Your vet may utilize the antiviral drug AZT. It could work for your cat, but it could hold harmful side effects ( Nash, 1997-2011 ) . Your vet may handle that virus with antibiotics, immune stimulators, Cortone Acetate, vitamins, fluids, ruddy blood cell stimulators, blood transfusions, appetite stimulations, and anabolic steroids ( Long beach animate being infirmary, 1997-2010 ) .
Some of these interventions depend on how ill the animate being is. If you had a cat that was Feline Leukemia positive and it has died and you want to acquire a new cat, you should clean everything that the old cat has used while the cat was infected ( Cornell feline wellness centre, 2009 ) .
Feline leukaemia is a serious disease, and you should ever immunize your cat to protect them from the virus. In this paper I talked about what the virus is, intervention, bar, marks and symptoms, and the phases of FelV. I hope by reading this you learned a small spot about what it is.
Citations
- Nash, H. ( 1997-2011 ) . Feline Leukemia virus: A cause of immunodeficiency in cats. Retrieved February 5, 2011 from favored education.com Website: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.peteducation.com/article.cfm? c=1+1316 & A ; aid=211
- Feline Leukemia Virus ( FeLV ) . ( 1998-2010 ) . Long beach carnal infirmary. Retrieved February 5, 2011 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.lbah.com/feline/felv.html
- Feline Leukemia Virus ( FeLV ) Overview, Types of FeLV. ( 2001, March 1 ) . Retrieved February 5, 2011 from Health communities.com Website: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.animalhealthchannel.com/FeLV/index.shtml
- Feline Leukemia Virus. ( 2009, February 2 ) . Cornell University College of veterinary medical specialty. Retrieved from February 5, 2011 from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/felv.html
- Eldridge, D. , Carlson, Delbert. G, . Carlson, Lisa. D. ( 2007 ) . Cat proprietor ‘s place veterinarian enchiridion. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //books.google.com/books? id=yjHrgg4pmngC & A ; pg=PA528 & A ; dq=feline+leukemia & A ; hl=en & A ; ei=99BRTdyZEsP48AaUo8ydCg & A ; sa=X & A ; oi=book_result & A ; ct=result & A ; resnum=8 & A ; ved=0CGEQ6AEwBw # v=onepage & A ; q=feline % 20leukemia & A ; f=false
