Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
by the vaccine is unknown, and annual vaccination is recommended
only for those animals who are at risk.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a potentially fatal virus of cats. It is
passed by direct cat-to-cat contact or by a queen to her kittens.Testing
and identifying FeLV-positive cats is essential to controlling infection.
Clinical signs associated with FeLV are nonspecific and can range from
anemia to immunosuppression to tumor formation. FeLV can cause
latent infections, which hide quietly in the cat but may cause clinical
signs months to years later.
Vaccination is recommended for cats who test negative for FeLV
but live in environments where it is possible for them to be exposed to
the virus. Some veterinarians recommend that all kittens receive initial
vaccinations to FeLV because their exposure risk may not yet be
defined. For example, even though you do not want your kitten to go
outside, things might change and the animal could end up going out at
some point in the future.You would want her to be protected in this
situation. However, FeLV vaccine is not recommended for cats who
have little or no risk of being exposed to other infected cats.
The vaccination schedule for FeLV is as follows:
1.
Vaccinate at nine weeks of age or older.
2.
Repeat vaccine four weeks later.
3.
If the cat remains in a high-risk environment, continue vacci-
nating annually.
Cats at risk for exposure to FeLV include cats who go outdoors,
stray cats, feral cats, open multicat households (new cats are often
brought into the home), FeLV-positive households and households
with unknown FeLV status.Vaccination confers fair to good immunity
in some cats, but this varies among vaccine manufacturers.The current
vaccines do not induce protection against the disease in all cats, so
preventing exposure to infected cats is still the best way to prevent
FeLV. FeLV vaccines have been associated with adverse reactions.They
are administered in the left rear leg muscle.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal virus of cats. The mode of
transmission is not definitively known, but the current theory is that it
