Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that causes anemia, lymphoid cancers and immunosuppression in cats. Whether a cat clears the virus, carries it quietly or becomes persistently infected depends largely on age and immune response, and the right test depends on which of these you are trying to detect.
Key facts
Feline leukemia virus at a glance- Species and system: cat; hemic, lymphatic, immune and neoplastic.
- Cause: FeLV, an enveloped gammaretrovirus with a simple genome (gag, pol, env) that integrates into host DNA as a provirus.
- Transmission: prolonged close contact; shed mainly in saliva. Mutual grooming, shared dishes and litter trays, and queen to kitten. Bite wounds are a less common route. The virus is fragile outside the cat.
- Outcomes: abortive, regressive or progressive.
- Classic presentation: a young cat with non-regenerative anemia, lymphoma, or recurrent infections.
- Zoonotic: no zoonotic risk has been shown (MSD).
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 4 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.