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Pathogen Page

Feline leukemia virus

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

2. Disease:

Feline leukemia virus infection

3. Introduction

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that infects cats. As a retrovirus, FeLV is transmitted as an RNA virus but the RNA is reverse transcribed into DNA. Retroviruses contradict the Central dogma of molecular biology. FeLV is usually transmitted between infected cats when the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions is involved. If not defeated by the animal’s immune system, the virus can be lethal. The disease caused by this virus is a form of cancer of blood cells called lymphocytes (a leukemia).

Cats infected with FeLV can serve as sources of infection. Cats pass the virus between themselves through saliva and close contact, by biting another cat, through a litter box or food dish used by an infected cat (rarely happens), and from milk during nursing. Transmission can also take place from an infected mother cat to her kittens, either before they are born or while they are nursing.

The signs and symptoms of infection with feline leukemia virus are quite varied and include loss of appetite, poor coat condition, infections of the skin, bladder and respiratory tract, oral disease, seizures, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), skin lesions, fatigue, fever, weight loss, stomatitis, gingivitis, litter box avoidance, pancytopenia, poor grooming, reoccurring bacterial and viral illnesses, anaemia, diarrhoea, and jaundice (Wiki: Feline leukemia virus).

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