Cat Leukemia: Symptoms, Testing and Prevention
Table Of Content
She is a passionate advocate of preventative medicine, educating clients, and believes medicine never has a one size fits all approach. When not vetting, her happy place is out walking the hills with her baby daughter and over-excited Labrador in tow, and writing. Stages of Infection Following exposure to FeLV, infections may progress in several different ways. Only a few drops of blood are needed, and most veterinary clinics can run the test in-house.
Stress
For environmental allergens, there are treatments to reduce the allergic reaction. Diagnosis of FeLV-induced neoplasia is similar to that of other tumors. Cytologic examination of fine-needle aspirates of masses, lymph nodes, body cavity fluids (eg, pleural effusion), and affected organs may reveal malignant lymphocytes. Bone marrow examination may reveal leukemic involvement, even when the peripheral blood appears normal. Biopsy with histologic examination of abnormal tissues is often necessary for diagnostic confirmation.
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When the cat is brought in for examination, its vet will most likely start with a dermatological approach, examining lesions and skin condition, checking for parasites, and inquiring about food habits. If parasites and allergies don't seem to be potential causes, the vet will move on to other testing, including skin biopsies and blood tests. It depends upon the specific disease the cat gets during the course of infection and the availability of supportive treatment for secondary infections. Overall, abortive infections are considered the most likely outcome of exposure to FeLV. This suggests that intense infectious pressure, comorbidities, and a stressful environment may impact exposure outcome.
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After exposure, the virus will spread into the bone marrow and organs before the body can eliminate it from the bloodstream. The infected cat won’t normally develop further disease unless their immune system becomes compromised and it is “reactivated.” Infected cats are not contagious unless they have the active form of FeLV. Clinical signs of feline leukemia virus come from the blood cells being attacked. Initially, cats may show little signs of infection until the virus has strengthened and taken over more of their immune system. Over time, clinical signs may become more involved as cats develop cancers secondary to the leukemia virus.
Disease Secondary to FeLV
You should read your policy and review your Declarations page for complete information on the coverages you are provided. If there is any conflict between the policy and this summary, the provisions of the policy shall prevail. While it can be emotionally taxing to receive a cat leukemia diagnosis, it's important to stay calm while you put together a plan with your veterinarian. The best course of action you can take is to follow their advice to a T. While removal of the tumor is a good step, it may not cure the cat as, in many cases, the cancer has spread.
Vaccines are indicated only for uninfected cats because there is no benefit in vaccinating an FeLV-positive cat. An IFA tests for the presence of FeLV p27 and other structural core antigens in the cytoplasm of cells. In clinical practice, peripheral blood smears are usually used for IFA; however, cytologic preparations of bone marrow or other tissues can also be used. An IFA requires submission to a diagnostic laboratory and cannot detect infection until bone marrow involvement occurs. False-negative test results may occur because of technical error, leukopenia, or lack of bone marrow involvement, whereas technical error is most often the cause of false-positive results. Like ELISA, IFA may not detect regressive infection because of the lack of sufficient viral antigen production.
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Unfortunately, there is no cure for FeLV, so treatment is aimed at managing the specific problems caused by the disease. For example, this could involve managing gum inflammation with dental treatment, providing antibiotics for secondary infections, and treating the anemia (where appropriate) with blood transfusions. Treatment for each cat will vary depending on their case but is aimed at extending a good quality of life for as long as possible.
Hair Loss Related To Cancer in Cats
Surgical removal can be attempted for solitary lesions, although the tumor often returns to the area or will have spread elsewhere in the body already. Palliative chemotherapy or radiation therapy may slow progression and contribute to survival time. As cutaneous lymphoma progresses, the skin becomes thickened, reddened, ulcerated, and may ooze fluid.
Treatment and Prognosis of Feline Leukemia Virus Disease
Pain can also cause them to lick excessively and lose hair in the painful area. Most commonly, this happens on the belly due to stomach or abdominal pain, constipation, or even bladder stones, inflammation and pain. In larger colonies of cats, it is possible to control FeLV infection through a combination of routine FeLV testing, quarantine, and vaccination programs. Fortunately, vaccinating a cat does not interfere with future blood testing for FeLV. Referral laboratories offer a number of confirmatory testing options including microplate ELISA for FeLV p27 antigen and PCR assay for FeLV provirus, as well as immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) testing. Some laboratories also offer quantitation of proviral DNA (copies/mL) in patients that are PCR assay positive for FeLV provirus.
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This is prudent, because re-homing and lifestyle changes such as outdoor access frequently occur as cats mature. Annual revaccination after maturity would depend on the cat’s risk of FeLV exposure. Cats that test positive for FeLV tend to have shorter lifespans, however during the early stages of infection, cats may not display any symptoms. If provided proper care and management, many cats with FeLV live years in good health. New cats or kittens over eight weeks of age should be tested for the virus before being introduced to a multi-cat household.
You can reduce your cat’s risk of contracting feline leukemia with regular vaccination. It is recommended that cats who spend any time outdoors—or cats that have exposure to potentially infected cats—get an annual vaccination. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends all kittens be vaccinated within their first year. Young kittens start the vaccine series at 8 weeks of age and receive a booster 3 to 4 weeks later.
Platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia are all possible sequelae as well. There’s no cure for FeLV, but there is a preventative vaccine if your cat is more likely to be exposed to the virus. The only completely effective method of protecting cats from FeLV is to prevent exposure to cats who are positive for the virus. Alopecia is the partial or complete lack of hair in areas where it is normally present. Hair loss is a sign, and its underlying cause must be determined in order to be treated. If a cat has hair loss and is scratching the area excessively, the itching problem should be investigated first.
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It is a delicate balance between the virus and the immune system, and approximately 1/4 of the cats that are exposed to FeLV will be able to eliminate it before it spreads to the rest of the body. Two types of blood tests are commonly used to initially diagnose FeLV, both of which detect a protein component of the virus called FeLV P27. One of these tests, called an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), is usually performed first as a screening tool, and can be run in a veterinarian's office.
This hair loss leads to all the fur on your furniture and clothing, but it’s normal. However, cats can experience too much hair loss and develop bald spots or areas with thin fur. This abnormal hair loss (also called Alopecia) can be caused by many different health issues, including allergies, fleas, mites, Ringworm, pain, and stress. The acute stage of FeLV infection occurring 2–6 weeks after infection is rarely detected but typically characterized by mild fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy, and cytopenia. Cats unable to mount an adequate immune response may become regressively or progressively infected.
It is generally treated with various dips or oral medications, but some vets also recommend shaving the infected cat completely to help control the fungus. Once the ringworm fungus is gone, the hair should regrow, but know it may take several weeks or even months. Pyoderma is a bacterial infection that commonly sets in when the skin is traumatized from scratching and biting.
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