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How To Prevent Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

This is a discussion on How To Prevent Feline Leukemia (FeLV) within the Cat Health & Nutrition forums, part of the Cats category; I found a nice article on preventing feline leukemia (felv). Felv in cats is very serious, so the more people ...

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  #1  
Old 06-22-2008, 09:17 PM
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Smile How To Prevent Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

I found a nice article on preventing feline leukemia (felv). Felv in cats is very serious, so the more people know about this cat disease the better. I hope this helps someone:

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a retrovirus, so named because of the way it behaves within infected cells. All retroviruses, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), produce an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, which permits them to insert copies of their own genetic material into that of the cells they have infected. Although related, FeLV and FIV differ in many ways, including their shape: FeLV is more circular while FIV is elongated. The two viruses are also quite different genetically, and their protein consituents are dissimlar in size and composition. Although many of the diseases caused by FeLV and FIV are similar, the specific ways in which they are caused differs.

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.

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 FeLV-negative colonies.
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  #2  
Old 12-09-2008, 02:37 AM
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Thanks for sharing that article with us...
Its really very useful !!!
That's really very good & helpful !!!
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