Feline leukemia is not exactly the same as the human leukemia we are familiar with. It is a malignant tumor infectious disease caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. Its main characteristics are malignant lymphoma, myeloid leukemia, and non-regenerative anemia. The disease has no obvious seasonality, a long incubation period, and a short course.

1. Risk groups

Kittens and other felines. Young cats and cats with low immunity are most susceptible, but the susceptibility decreases with age.

2. Symptoms/Signs

Cats carrying the virus may not show any symptoms, but because the virus can cause the cat's immunity to decrease, the cat will gradually become sickly and sickly over time.

· Loss of appetite/significant weight loss

· Persistent high fever

· Swollen lymph nodes/tumor on body surface

· Pale mucous membranes (anemia)

· Messy hair

· Prolonged diarrhea

· Convulsions or other neurological symptoms, etc.

If the cat shows the above symptoms, parents should quickly send the cat to a regular animal hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Cats infected with FeLV may show one or more disease symptoms, and the severity of the disease is often related to the FeLV subtype, the cat's age, immune status and other factors.

· Malignant lymphoma

Such as thymic lymphoma (causing difficulty in swallowing and breathing, common in adult cats), gastrointestinal lymphoma (this type is more common, accounting for about 30% of cases), multiple lymphoma (superficial lymph nodes on the body can be touched by hand) )wait.

· Lymphocytic leukemia

May occur alone or in combination with malignant lymphoma.

· Red blood cell and myeloid leukemia

Including myeloproliferative diseases, it is the most common hematological malignant tumor in cats.

· Fibrosarcoma

It is the most common subcutaneous malignant tumor in cats.

· Myelodysplastic Syndrome

The main features are anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia, and pale mucous membranes visible to the naked eye.

· Immunosuppression

T and B lymphocytes are reduced, the cat's immunity is reduced, and it is easy to cause secondary infection. In particular, feline HIV (FIV) andFeLV co-infection can exacerbate immune suppression and increase the likelihood of lymphoma in cats.

· Intestinal diseases

Cats may suffer from chronic diarrhea caused by a virus attacking intestinal epithelial cells.

· Reproductive disorders

Pregnant female cats infected with feline leukemia virus may cause miscarriage. If the fetus is delivered normally, it will show symptoms of FeLV infection such as weakness and susceptibility to illness.

How to diagnose?

· Routine blood examination

Leukocytosis, anemia, reduction of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (HCT), very few platelets or even invisible in some visual fields, and a large increase in white blood cells, mainly large lymphoid cells, indicate Fe LV infection.

· Blood biochemistry test

Serum total protein (TP), cholesterol, and blood calcium decreased, glucose, creatine kinase, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased, and serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bile Red pigment and direct bilirubin remain basically unchanged, indicating Fe LV infection.

· Test kits and test strips

Imported feline leukemia detection kits are commonly used clinically to detect whole blood, serum or saliva of cats, and only require 0.05mL of whole blood. Since this method needs to detect antibodies in cats, and the incubation period after virus infection is 3-4 weeks, this method can only diagnose cats that have been infected for more than one month.

Note: Feline leukemia virus rapid diagnostic test strips are relatively simple and fast, and the results can be read within 5-10 minutes. However, the false positive rate is high and it is easy to be misdiagnosed, so its use is not recommended.

· Laboratory diagnosis will be performed when necessary. Laboratory diagnostics are more accurate and can rule out viruses resulting from vaccination.

Note: Hemochromatosis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and other diseases can also cause anemia symptoms in cats. Inflammation in the body can also cause an increase in white blood cells. In addition, feline immunodeficiency virus infection (feline AIDS) can also cause immune insufficiency in cats. and other symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary for an experienced veterinarian to conduct a comprehensive analysis based on the cat’s symptoms and laboratory results to avoid misdiagnosis and delay the condition.

Infection channels/methods:

The source of infection of this disease is cats in the incubation period and infected cats. Their saliva, feces, urine, milk, nasal secretions, etc. all contain viruses, which can be transmitted to healthy cats through the respiratory tract and digestive tract. It is mainly an oral infection and is directly transmitted through ingestion of the virus in saliva. Therefore, close contact with sick cats and licking each other are the main causes.necessary mode of communication.

· Infection caused by bites and scratches from sick cats.

· Infection caused by bites from blood-sucking insects.

· Rarely, it can be transmitted by using the same litter box or food bowl as an affected cat.

· Sick pregnant cats can infect their babies while they are pregnant or nursing.

Treatment:

There is currently no effective treatment for feline leukemia virus infection, and it can only be treated symptomatically. However, according to previous cases and related reports, cats still have a chance to recover, and parents can provide them with care and supportive treatment as much as possible within their capabilities.

· Whole blood transfusion or erythropoietin injection to treat anemia.

· Use antiviral drugs such as interferon

· Use antibiotics to prevent concurrent infections and prevent sepsis caused by bacterial infections.

· Treat dehydration and anorexia

Note: The most effective “drug” against viral diseases is the cat’s own resistance. Therefore, in addition to intravenous injection of nutrients such as glucose solution, parents also need to ensure that the cat has sufficient food. If the cat has poor appetite, parents can Feed a small amount of canned AD or the cat’s favorite food every 2-3 hours to supplement nutrition, while ensuring drinking water.

· Treatment of concurrent cancers with chemotherapy. Most cats with lymphoma will die within 2 months if not treated. The survival time of cats after chemotherapy is about 10-12 months.

Note: The specific treatment plan needs to follow the doctor’s advice. If you need to take digestive drugs or health products (lactase, probiotics, etc.) to regulate the cat's gastrointestinal function and promote diet, you should note that these drugs should be taken separately from antibiotics and should be taken at least half an hour apart.

How to prevent feline leukemia virus infection:

· Try to prevent your own cats from playing with cats whose health status is unknown outside to prevent them from being bitten or scratched.

· Whether it is a cattery or a home, new cats must be tested for FeLV before they are admitted.

· Many FeLV-positive cats can survive well, but will continue to shed the virus, so they must be isolated from other healthy cats, otherwise the chance of infection in healthy cats can reach 10% to 15%.

· Pay attention to environmental hygiene and disinfect cat utensils regularly to provide cats with a healthy and clean living environment.

· Properly match meals, maintainFeed a balanced diet to improve your cat’s own immunity.

· Vaccination is also one of the methods of prevention. However, the various Fe LV vaccines currently on the market can only provide partial protection, and the vaccines are not effective for individuals who have been infected with Fe LV. Therefore, cats should be tested to see whether they are already infected with the virus before vaccination.

A potential adverse consequence of FeLV vaccination is that the injection site may cause sarcoma to grow. The recommended injection site is the back of the left thigh or tail. If sarcoma occurs at the injection site, it can be directly removed by surgery. Therefore, before receiving FeLV vaccine, parents need to consider the possible risks caused by the vaccine.

Cat symptoms of FeLV infection are not obvious in the early stages. Parents need to frequently observe the status of their cats to observe whether there are signs of weakness, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, or other potential diseases.

Alcohol, acidic disinfectant or boiling water can be used to disinfect the living environment and cat utensils on a daily basis. Pay attention to protective measures during disinfection.

If the cat's physical condition is no longer suitable for treatment, what parents can do is to spend more time with the cats so that they are not lonely and afraid. If necessary, euthanasia is the best way to relieve the cats.

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