Feline leukemie virus: Review

Authors

  • Maria Cecília Rodrigues Alves
  • Laura Monteiro de Castro Conti
  • Paulo Sérgio Cruz de Andrade Júnior
  • Dirlei Molinari Donatele

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22256/pubvet.v9n2.86-100

Keywords:

FeLV, diagnosis, epidemiology

Abstract

The feline leukemia virus is a disease that affects cats all over the world. The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is transmitted via the saliva, by milk, transplacental via, or through blood transfusions. The FeLV cannot survive in the environment and can be easily eliminated through the use of common disinfectants. Once infected, feline can develop many clinical signs, which may be unspecific as lethargy and anorexia or more specific as leukemias. The virus can still develop animal immunosuppression, leaving it vulnerable to other diseases. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential to cat’s better quality of life. In addition, the diagnosis of infected cats is crucial to avoid transmission to an uninfected cat. There are vaccines against FeLV available in the market; however it’s unknown the duration of immunity provided by them. Due to this disease importance in feline internal medicine, this study aims to present a literature review of feline leukemia virus, with his transmission way, treatment, epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention.

Published

2015-06-16

Issue

Section

Medicina veterinária

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