Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline leukemia virus infection confirmed in a cat in Iraq
By Sadeem Abdulkareem·Published in Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research·2025·College of veterinary medicine/university of Baghdad, IQ·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline Leukemia in Iraq: A Case Report
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old male cat in Iraq was brought to the vet for a check-up and tested positive for feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a highly contagious virus that can weaken the immune system and lead to serious health issues like anemia and cancer. The vet used a rapid test to confirm the presence of the virus in the cat's blood. This case marks the first confirmed diagnosis of FeLV in Iraq, highlighting the importance of awareness and testing for this virus among cats.
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Abstract
Feline leukemia virus is a highly infectious virus among cats, spread primarily via saliva, mutual grooming and aggressive behaviors. This virus cause disorders of hematopoiesis, immune suppression, anemia lymphomas and leukemias. Blood samples were obtained from a client owned 4 years male cat presented to a veterinary private clinic in Baghdad governorate for checking and tested by using the anigen FIV/FeLV rapid kits (manufactured by Bionote, validated from OIE reference laboratories, republic of Korea) to detect FeLV antigen (94% sensitivity of FeLV Ag, 99% specificity) and by blood sample analysis. The result was positive for the leukemic antigen. This is the first confirmatory diagnosis of FeLV in iraq.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.23975/bjvr.2025.156774.1198