Stage II (Primary Viremia) – When cats are unable to mount an effective initial immune response, the virus spreads via the bloodstream in white blood cells (e.g.: lymphocytes, monocytes). Cats that are able to mount an effective immune response eliminate the virus at this point and are called “regressor cats” because they develop high levels of neutralizing antibodies and never develop clinical signs of disease. Stage I (Initial Infection) – The virus replicates in local lymphoid tissue, typically in the oropharynx (aka back of the throat). The virus is also shed in blood, urine, feces, nasal secretions, and milk. How does a cat get FeLV?įeline leukemia virus most commonly transmitted via contact with saliva from infected cats. Furthermore, all naturally-infected cats are infected with subgroup A, but may be co-infected with subgroup B and/or C. Only subgroup A is transmitted from cat to cat. There are multiple subgroups of FeLV, specifically subgroup A, subgroup B, and subgroup C. Image courtesy of the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases. Maybe there already exists some cooperation between researchers and some animal clinic (maybe university ones?) and you could ask the clinic if they have a need of FeLV positive but symptom-free cats.Electron microscopic image of the feline leukemia virus. Most researchers are simple humans, and the worst case could be to get no answer. You could have a look, or ask the vet for information about researchers active in the field of FeLV (connected not only with cats, but also with AIDS research and cancer treatment in humans) to ask directly if your cat could provide any help. So it seems that your cat may not be a very special one.īut your thought is worthy, and maybe some researcher near you would be happy to take some blood or cell sample of your cat, to build a data base. The acquired immunosuppression is the most frequent and most devastating consequence of FeLV infection in the cat. Persistently infected cats commonly die of secondary opportunistic infections that result from FeLV-induced immunosuppression. 1988 Jul.Ĭats exposed to the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) may mount an effective immune response and eliminate the virus, develop a non-viremic, latent infection or become persistently infected and shed the virus. It seems known that infected cats could respond in different ways, like this (old) scientific paper states:Ĭlinical and immunologic aspects of FeLV-induced immunosuppression I just don’t know how or if she can be of help. I was wondering if she could be beneficial to research into a cure or treatment for FeLV? She has no contact with non-vaccinated cats and is actually vaccinated after the kittens died, but if she could pass the ability of living just fine with the disease on to others, it could save a lot of lives. Somehow, she is an immune ‘sufferer’ of the disease. #CAT UNEQUAL PUPIL SIZE FELV PLUS#
She has no real symptoms and is as lively as any other cat, and has been for the three year she has been here, plus however long she was at the crack den. The vet (not the same who saved the kitten) said she was completely fine, but due to her history and, yes, looking it up online (the pupil thing is one symptom of FeLV), I requested a FeLV test, though the vet felt it was unnecessary. Two years later, I noticed the mother (whom I kept) had unequal pupil sizes that differed a lot. When it all happened, I was told in no uncertain terms by those I helped save the cats that no, the mother was not the source, or they would all be dead or infected. That kitten got another 14 months of good life. Her sister got ill afterwards, but that vet found FeLV and treated what symptoms she could.
A few months later, one kitten very suddenly got ill and died. Three years ago, I saved a cat and her six kittens from basically a crack den.
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