How is feline leukemia virus transmitted? Symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Almost everyone in the house has a four-legged friend. Pets, just like people, can get sick. In order for the disease not to harm the animal, it is necessary to diagnose it in time and begin treatment. Feline viral leukemia is uncommon. Not every pet owner knows what it is. You can find detailed information about the disease in our article.

What is viral leukemia?

Feline leukemia virus is a retroviral disease. The disease weakens the immune system of the animal. Leukemia affects various cells and reduces the protective functions of the body. That is why the pet becomes susceptible to a wide variety of diseases.

In the common people, leukemia is leukemia. The meaning of the word has become widely known thanks to the special literature. Over time, the term "leukemia" was replaced by "leukemia". The new name of the disease was proposed by V. Ellerman. It is believed that the term "leukemia" more accurately characterizes the process that takes place in the patient's body. At the moment, it is believed that leukemia is a disease of a tumor nature. This disease often affects farm birds. The disease causes significant damage to the economy, as sick birds reduce productivity.

The causative agent of leukemia

Feline leukemia virus can also affect other animals. The causative agent of the disease is an oncovirus. It belongs to the group of retroviruses. When infected, tumors can form. Viruses are spherical. Leukemia cells quickly lose activity at high temperatures. When heated to 70 degrees Celsius, the virus is deactivated after 30 minutes. If the temperature rises to 85 degrees, leukemia cells die after 10 seconds. They remain active for about 3 years. The virus is sensitive to ether and chloroform.

Symptoms of disease

Viral leukemia is not common in cats. Symptoms of the disease, however, absolutely everyone should know. This is no coincidence, because the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the faster the pet will be able to cope with it. The further the virus will actively develop in the body, the weaker the animal will be.

Feline leukemia virus is a chronic disease. It can develop faster or slower depending on many factors. People who keep a large number of different animals in the house know what viral leukemia in cats is. The symptoms are not specific. You can easily determine only a secondary disease. However, there are still signs by which you can find out that a cat may have leukemia. As a rule, the temperature rises in the pet. Usually responsible owners knowthe average temperature of your four-legged friend. If you notice that your cat has lethargy and loss of interest in games at least a few times a week, then you should take a closer look at it. Temperature must also be measured. Its increase indicates a weakening of the body.

Viral feline leukemia is quite difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of the virus can vary. Nutrition is an indicator of well-being. A cat that has recently had a poor appetite should be looked at. The animal may also actively lose its weight.

Diseases of the skin covering and problems with the intestines are another factor that can determine the presence of leukemia in a cat. An animal with leukemia can be recognized by profuse salivation. It is impossible not to notice him. In the later stages of the disease, the cat looks weak and sick.

Clinical picture

The initial stage of the disease lasts up to 16 weeks. During this period, the cat's lymph nodes increase. This stage can lead to the development of the disease in three ways.

In the first case, viral cells are found in saliva and blood for a short period of time, namely up to 12 weeks. The development of the infection ends in the complete recovery of the cat. She gains lifelong immunity. The animal does not carry the disease.

In the second case, the virus is in the blood and saliva for more than 12 weeks. The disease develops and progresses. Over time, the animal dies.

In the latter case, the virus after sometime disappears from blood and saliva. However, it remains in the bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. Such animals release the infection into the environment. Over time, clinical symptoms may develop. In this case, the infection multiplies and depresses the pet's immune system. Secondary diseases develop, namely toxoplasmosis, peritonitis and respiratory diseases. Over time, the animal may also develop anemia. Bleeding may occur. The cat has a painful mass or enlarged lymph nodes.

Diagnosis of disease

Many people are afraid of feline leukemia virus. Symptoms and treatment of this disease are individual. The owner of the pet should contact the veterinarian as soon as possible if he notices that the cat is behaving unnaturally. She may have fever and vomiting. In order to exclude the fact of the disease, it is necessary to pass 2 tests. The results must be negative. It is worth noting that the tests are given with a 2-week interval.

There are several ways to determine the virus in the blood, urine and saliva of a cat. Experts recommend using at least two different options. Diagnosis is based on the detection of antigens in the body.

There is also a visual diagnosis that allows you to notice inflamed lymph nodes in the intestines or other internal organs. According to the results, a specialist in a veterinary clinic may prescribe additional examinations. Diagnosis is carried out with a time interval of several weeksnot just like that. This is due to the fact that in some cases the disease does not appear immediately.

Disease Spread

Viral leukemia is one of the causes of high mortality among cats. This type of animal is at risk of developing many serious diseases. They may develop cancer and anemia. Experts say that most felines die after infection after 3-4 years.

An infected cat becomes a source of disease among other animals. The infection can be spread through saliva, feces, urine, and milk. However, the virus cannot survive in the environment. Infection is possible only through close contact between animals.

It is known that viruses spread most actively during prolonged interaction between animals. Infection can occur through sexual contact and feeding from the same dish. It is believed that the most common mode of transmission of the disease is through a bite. In this case, the virus enters directly into the blood. If you are sure that your pet did not leave the house, did not walk on the street and did not communicate with other people's cats, but the symptoms are very similar to those that we described above, you can not worry too much: it is unlikely that he has feline viral leukemia. Diagnosis, according to specialists of veterinary clinics, should be carried out if the pet has been in contact with a sick animal for a long time.

Virus and man

Almost everyone in the house has a cat or cat. These animals have becomeFor many, not just pets, but also close friends. Many people believe that feline leukemia virus is transmitted to humans. Is it so? You can learn about this and much more from our article.

Feline leukemia virus is a very serious disease. It is passed from one pet to another regardless of its age. It is worth noting that feline leukemia cannot be transmitted to humans. This is no coincidence, because cats have a completely different body structure. The disease cannot also be transmitted to other animals. An infected cat can only become a source of illness for a cat.

Treatment

How is feline leukemia virus treated? Treatment, unfortunately, cannot completely rid the animal of the disease. You can use drugs to eliminate the symptoms that occur in a cat. Therapy is usually supportive. Only a veterinarian can prescribe the drug. The treatment regimen is selected on an individual basis. This is due to the fact that the disease can take various forms and affect the body of a particular cat in different ways. The choice of an antibacterial drug directly depends on the localization of the pathological process.

Often used immunomodulators, such as "Betalleykin", "Gala-vet" and others. In a specialized veterinary clinic, the cat may also be prescribed hematopoietic stimulants, such as Epokrin and Erytrostin. The animal is also prescribed immunosuppressants. They are taken only at a certain stage in the development of the disease. Immunosuppressants are given to the animalonly under the strict supervision of the attending physician. If the form of the disease is chronic, the pet is prescribed immunomodulators, such as Virbagen Omega. The drug is not certified in the Russian Federation. It is for this reason that it will need to be ordered in other countries. And its cost is quite high.

Treatment may also include chemotherapy. As a result, the size of lymphomas decreases. However, the remission is short-lived. A few months later, you will need to repeat the course of chemotherapy. They also practice blood transfusion.

Not the last place in the treatment is diet. Under no circumstances should a cat with leukemia be fed raw foods. As we said earlier, the disease makes the animal susceptible to a wide variety of infections. Raw meat is especially dangerous. It can contain a huge number of harmful microorganisms.

With viral leukemia in cats, it is necessary to regularly use preparations to combat helminths and fleas. These parasites also significantly weaken the body, so it is important to prevent their occurrence. Preventive measures won't take much of your time.

Severely ill cats may be hospitalized until they feel better. It is important not to let your pet run freely. It is necessary to keep a sick cat away from he althy animals. It is worth noting that in some cases, veterinarians can perform an operation to remove the resulting tumor growths. Oral treatment (cleaning or extraction of teeth) is mandatory.

Prevention

Every owner needs to know how to protect their cat from viral leukemia. In order to protect the animal from the disease, you will need to follow a few simple rules.

1. It is important to periodically wash cat bedding in high temperature water.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with other people's pets.
3. You will also need to put shoes in a place inaccessible to the cat.

Vaccine against feline leukemia virus is the only way to save the animal. The most common vaccine for vaccination in the Russian Federation is Leukocel. It creates immune protection after a few weeks. It is kept throughout the year. The vaccination should then be repeated.

Testing before vaccination

Before vaccination, the cat should be examined. First of all, you will need to test the animal for the presence of antigens in its body. If the cat is infected, there is no point in vaccinating.

The feline leukemia virus vaccine may not be administered to kittens. This is possible if their parents were not infected. It is worth noting that in the catteries of pedigreed cats, they are regularly tested for antigen. Usually there the procedure is repeated several times a year.

Express diagnostics in St. Petersburg

Since 2009, cat owners in St. Petersburg can take advantage of express diagnostics of leukemia. The pet may receive a complete clinical examination. The cat will also need to be tested forimmunodeficiency and peritonitis. Specialists will do an ultrasound of the animal's kidneys. In addition, the owner of the pet will receive advice from a general practitioner.

Viral leukemia and viral immunodeficiency

Viral leukemia and immunodeficiency are quite similar diseases. The symptoms that occur with these diseases are similar. Both pathologies are retroviral. These diseases completely depress the immune system. However, they have significant differences. Viral immunodeficiency inhibits exclusively mature cells. Leukemia affects the blood-forming organs and changes the structure of cells. Leukemia in cats causes cancerous growths. With the immunodeficiency virus, this is not observed. Only a specialist can establish an accurate diagnosis.

Summarize

Many people are afraid of feline leukemia virus. Prevention of the disease is not particularly difficult and does not require a lot of time, so any owner can protect his four-legged friend from infection. A disease that was diagnosed in time will not bring discomfort to the cat in the future. Timely treatment can completely eliminate possible symptoms.