FeLV

Question 1

Transmission of FeLV

Answer 1

Via “intimate moist contact” - with salivary secretions - via bites, milk. + blood transfusions

Question 2

Basis of the in house ELISA

Answer 2

Detecting soluble p27 antigen in blood

Question 3

what type of Virus is FeLV and what is it capable of doing

Answer 3

Retrovirus

inducing neoplasia

Question 4

biggest factor contributing to the outcome of infection is

Answer 4

age
exposure <4mo = much more likely to develop persistent viraemia
(younger you are and bigger size of infection exposed to = worse the likely outcome)

Question 5

FeLV disease progression

Answer 5

Oronasal exposure

• spread to lymphoid tissue most cats eliminate at this stage
• dissemination of virus
• bone marrow infection
• persistent viraemia or latency.

Question 6

Diseases associated with FeLV

Answer 6

• Immunosupression - opportunistic infections
• Neoplasia - lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple fibrosarcomas
• Anaemia & BM disorders
• misc - due to Ag-Ab complexes

Question 7

How does FeLV cause neoplasia?

Answer 7

insertional mutagenesis by activating proto-oncogenes or disrupting tumour suppressor genes

Question 8

Do maternal ABs or vaccination interfere with ELISA?

Answer 8

No - it tests for antigen.

Question 9

A negative in house FeLV ELISA result is likely to be

Answer 9

Correct - sensitive test.

Should confirm with virus isolation or IMF testing.

Question 10

When do most cats eliminate FeLV infection

Answer 10

when the virus spreads to lymphoid tissue

Question 11

If a cat is antibody positive but antigen negative for FeLV

Answer 11

It has eliminated the infection

Question 12

Latency can be reactivated

Answer 12

Never or in stressful situations!

Question 13

Persistently viraemic cats are

Answer 13

at high risk of developing fatal dz e.g. immunosuppression, BM disorders, haemopoietic neoplasia.

Question 14

If a cat has an unusual manifestation of a disease which is not responding to tx we should test for

Answer 14

FeLV and FIV

Question 15

What types of neoplasia can FeLV cause

Answer 15

Lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple fibrosarcomas

Question 16

Most FeLV caused anaemias are

Answer 16

non-regenerative

Can get IMHA, aplastic and myelodysplastic

Question 17

Glomerulonephritis, uveitis, polyarthritis, neurological disorders, GI dz, reproductive disorders can be linked to

Answer 17

Ag-Ab complexes - test for FeLV

Question 18

How long after exposure to FeLV should a healthy cat be tested?

Answer 18

12 weeks

Question 19

How sensitive is the p27 antigen ELISA

Answer 19

Very - -ve likely to be correct

Question 20

How specific is the ELISA test

Answer 20

Lower - can get false +ves so always confirm a positive in house result with virus isolation or immunofluorescence testing.

Question 21

If you get a positive result in house

Answer 21

Confirm with virus isolation or immunofluorescence testing.
If severely unwell with signs consistent with FeLV related dz a single +ve is enough to confirm infection.
Retest in 12wks to check for transient infection.

Question 22

A single positive in a severely unwell cat with signs consistent with FeLV related dz

Answer 22

Is sufficient to confirm infection.

Question 23

Management for healthy FeLV +ve cats

Answer 23

Isolate & retest in 12wks

Question 24

Management for sick FeLV +ve cats

Answer 24

• low stress environment
• inactivated vaccine
• manage concurrent dz
• [recombinant feline interferon]