pubmed & felv

just thought that i would share for discussion:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22839692

Well, you might want to start the discussion yourself

Serious or sarcastic? If anyone would like to contribute fine, and if not, fine. I'm not as well versed on FeLV but am reading a lot.

Sally (mrsgreenjeens) wasn't being sarcastic. Do you have any specific questions? :dk:

Here is an excellent brochure by the Cats Protection League on FeLV: http://www.dr-addie.com/downloads/660_felv.pdf

And an overview by the Winn Feline Foundation, discussing outcomes of exposure: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/pages/felv_web.pdf

But vaccination-site sarcomas are most associated with the FeLV vaccine: http://www.petresource.com/Articles of Interest/vaccination_site_sarcomas_in_cat.htm

And discussion you might find interesting on FeLV here on TCS: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245397/feline-leukemia-confusion

The vaccine is only about 70% effective: http://www.gazehound.com/vagabonds-wish-info-on-feline-leukemia/ (I'm not having luck getting the Merck Veterinary Manual to load. :dk: ).

We don't get our indoor cats vaccinated for FeLV (or anything else after their first round of vaccines and boosters), and we don't have our ferals vaccinated for FeLV.

LDG said:

The vaccine is only about 70% effective: http://www.gazehound.com/vagabonds-wish-info-on-feline-leukemia/ (I'm not having luck getting the Merck Veterinary Manual to load. :dk: ).

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merck seems to be having server issues at the moment. here is a direct link to the page on FeLV http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/57000.htm

Sorry if I sounded sarcastic.  I was simply trying to say that if you were wanted to start a discussion, then you should probably state your feelings about the article.  Sorry if I wasn't clear

LDG said:

.

We don't get our indoor cats vaccinated for FeLV (or anything else after their first round of vaccines and boosters), and we don't have our ferals vaccinated for FeLV.

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How about if the cats have access to a small outdoor enclosure, but no contact with other cats?

There was no question (or I would have asked). It was simply an article that I wanted to share with this group of cat folks who seemed interested in FeLV.

But now that I'm thinking after reading these boards, I'm more confused than ever if the following statements are true:

My 4 month old kitten would test + for FeLV since she's been vaccinated.

The stray outside may have had some shots (there is impression of a collar in fur), so when he goes to vet he could test +.

Chopper, the stray could bear results for the retrovirus one way, and then later another way.

Actually, the information that kitty will test positive for FeLV if vaccinated is inaccurate. It's not a live vaccine. EB24 must have been thinking of the FIV vaccine. When vaccinated for FIV, kitties will subsequently always test positive, but that's not the case for FeLV.

And Mani, with an enclosure, I wouldn't vaccinate. But that's me.

chopper said:

Chopper, the stray could bear results for the retrovirus one way, and then later another way.

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Well, if he'd recently contracted it, he could test negative now, but it could be "percolating" in his system, and he might test positive for it in six weeks or 2 months or so.

There's also the really rare case where a cat is infected with the virus, "sequesters" it in their bone marrow, and it ... resurfaces later in life. This happened to Momofmany's Koko (though she knew she'd been exposed to it, having rescued a litter of FeLV kittens).

thank you all so kindly for sharing links, and expertise.