Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical signs and effects of feline leukemia and immunodeficiency
By Hartmann, Katrin·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2011·Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical aspects of feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus infection.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are viruses that can affect the health of domestic cats. FIV can weaken a cat's immune system, making them more vulnerable to infections and other health issues, but many cats with FIV may not show serious symptoms and can live for years without problems. On the other hand, FeLV is more harmful and can lead to serious conditions like tumors and anemia, as well as increase the risk of other infections due to its effects on the immune system. Fortunately, the number of cats infected with FeLV has been decreasing over the past 20 years, making it less of a threat than it used to be.
Abstract
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses with a global impact on the health of domestic cats. The two viruses differ in their potential to cause disease. FIV can cause an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that increases the risk of developing opportunistic infections, neurological diseases, and tumors. In most naturally infected cats, however, FIV itself does not cause severe clinical signs, and FIV-infected cats may live many years without any health problems. FeLV is more pathogenic, and was long considered to be responsible for more clinical syndromes than any other agent in cats. FeLV can cause tumors (mainly lymphoma), bone marrow suppression syndromes (mainly anemia) and lead to secondary infectious diseases caused by suppressive effects of the virus on bone marrow and the immune system. Today, FeLV is less important as a deadly infectious agent as in the last 20 years prevalence has been decreasing in most countries.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21807418/