One of the most dangerous diseases in cats is viral leukemia, which is highly contagious and can be fatal. This retroviral pathology is a latent, indolent disease and begins to actively manifest itself in the terminal phase, rapidly progressing.
1) Causative agent of leukemia and pathogenesis
2) Routes of infection
3) Signs of leukemia in cats
4) Diagnosis of the disease
5) Treatment
6) Prevention
Causative agent of leukemia and pathogenesis
The causative agent of leukemia (retrovirus) is similar in properties to HIV infection. Once in the body, it penetrates the bone marrow cells and disrupts the genetic code of leukocytes, resulting in a failure of hematopoietic processes.
A large number of immature leukocytes accumulate in the blood (for this reason, another name for leukemia is leukemia), which in turn leads to disruption of the immune system and the development of a favorable environment for the introduction of other infections and viruses. Which is the main danger for pets. In addition, viral leukemia in cats is an oncovirus, that is, it provokes the rapid development of tumors. In other words, leukemia can turn into cancer.
Read more about oncology: Causes of cancer in cats
The disease has a long latent period. After infection, the virus can persist in the body for several years, and the immune response may be absent for a long time.
Any cat can get leukemia: domestic and stray, young and old, mestizo and purebred. Leukemia is transmitted to cats mainly through close contact, since the virus is quickly destroyed in the external environment (within two days). He is at risk from low and high temperatures, as well as alcohol-containing and disinfectants.
Murkoshi specialists recommend maintaining pets’ immunity at the proper level, since in 30% of cases good immunity can cope with the disease on its own (and this happens in the first stage after infection). Suppression of infection occurs from two days to two months.
But you shouldn’t relax: despite the fact that the virus is not tenacious in the external environment and the body can cope on its own in some cases, the virus still remains a dangerous enemy of our pets. Let's look at how viral leukemia is transmitted.
Is feline leukemia dangerous for people?
The leukemia virus is not known to be transmitted to humans. However, cats with this disease can carry other infections that are transmitted to people with weakened immune systems (for example, patients with HIV/AIDS, people undergoing chemotherapy, etc.). Therefore, cats with leukemia should be kept under observation. If symptoms of any disease become apparent, they should be taken to a veterinarian for immediate examination. This is necessary both for the cat itself and for any person living with it.
Cats with the chronic form usually appear healthy. And they are especially dangerous because no one suspects that a pet is a carrier and distributor of the virus.
Therefore, it is recommended to diagnose this disease in cats that are at risk or have owners with weakened immune systems.
Routes of infection
It is worth noting right away that only cats can become infected with leukemia. This virus is not dangerous for humans and other pets. Therefore, you can safely care for the animal.
A kitten can become infected with leukemia through saliva, blood, breast milk, urine and feces. Contacts with an infected animal during mating, fights, joint games, through a common bowl or tray will serve this purpose. Blood-sucking insects can also transmit the virus - from a sick cat to a healthy one.
Favorable conditions for the development of viral leukemia are present among unscrupulous scammers - “breeders” who only care about profit from the sale of kittens. There, sanitary rules of keeping are violated, there is a large overcrowding of animals - all this contributes to the spread of the virus. Therefore, if you are concerned about the health of cats, never deal with such scammers.
Read about how to recognize a divorcee: Beware, scammers! Razedentsy and bird markets
How the feline leukemia virus spreads
There are several main ways of transmitting the virus from a sick animal to a healthy one. In any case, close contact is necessary, since the virus cannot survive in the environment.
Among the most common methods of transmission of the virus:
- Saliva . The infection process will begin if a sick animal licks or bites a healthy one. The virus will penetrate the tissue and cause disease.
- Blood . To do this, it is necessary that the blood of a sick animal enters the wound of a healthy one. This happens in fights.
- Urine . Virus is also released when urinating. But it is contagious only for a short time. To infect a healthy animal, sniff the urine of a sick animal.
- Feces . Similar to urine, but this route of infection is quite rare.
- Milk and placenta . Kittens can become infected from a sick cat.
- Sexually .
- With a flea bite.
The risk of contracting such a dangerous disease is quite high, especially among pets who come into contact with stray cats.
Be sure to read:
Enteritis in cats: symptoms and treatment at home, prevention, is it transmitted to humans?
Signs of leukemia in cats
The first symptoms do not appear immediately, but after several months or even years; they can be triggered by stress, other diseases, hormonal drugs, etc.
The virus, relatively speaking, loves cells that divide quickly. These are bone marrow, mucous membranes of the intestines and respiratory tract. It also promotes the formation of tumors. As a result, symptoms may vary.
If the virus has developed in the bone marrow, there will be disturbances in hematopoiesis and decreased immunity. The formation of a tumor in the intestines will lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and digestive disorders.
The development of the disease in the chest cavity is accompanied by respiratory failure and the formation of fluid in the lungs. When the nervous system is damaged, neurological deficits are observed, for example, gait disturbance.
Cats usually do not have obvious external signs indicating leukemia; the pathology can only be assumed. Typical symptoms that you need to pay attention to are gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) or other diseases that have been resistant to treatment for a long time. For example, treat diarrhea, it goes away, but if you stop giving medications, it comes back.
It is also worth paying attention to causeless weight loss (if the diet is normal and the cat has been treated for worms) or enlarged lymph nodes.
What makes feline distemper and respiratory diseases so serious and dangerous?
These diseases include: feline panleukopenia (or distemper) and viral respiratory diseases (herpesvirus and Calicivirus). Panleukopenia is a disease with often high mortality caused by feline parvovirus (FPV). Clinical signs include:
- Lethargy;
- Anorexic;
- Vomit;
- Diarrhea;
- Fever.
Feline herpesvirus causes severe upper respiratory tract disease that includes sneezing, congestion, and conjunctivitis. Feline calicivirus causes upper respiratory tract disease and oral ulceration.
Diagnosis of the disease
Leukemia in kittens is diagnosed at a veterinary clinic. There are two tests that help determine the presence of the disease - PCR and ELISA. In the case of PCR, a bone marrow sample is taken using a needle to determine the viral pathogen. Using an ELISA test, blood is taken and checked for the presence of waste products of the virus.
To determine the quality of organ functioning and the presence of inflammation in the body, a general blood test is performed. Additionally, ultrasound or x-rays are prescribed. With their help, abnormalities in the functioning of organs and the presence of tumors are determined.
What is VIC
FIV (feline viral immunodeficiency disease) is a viral infection that affects the immune and nervous systems of the animal. The disease weakens the pet's immunity, making its body more susceptible to secondary infections. The virus is currently incurable and remains in the cat’s body for the rest of its life. Without maintenance therapy, there is a high risk of death due to secondary infections.
The immunodeficiency virus can remain in a cat’s body for a long time without manifesting itself. Therefore, the disease most often occurs in animals older than 6 years. How FIV infection occurs, how to identify this disease and how to help your pet - read about this in the article from the Murkoshi team.
Treatment
There are no drugs that kill the virus yet. Treatment of leukemia in cats consists of symptomatic care. However, with good care and properly selected therapy, you can maintain high immunity for a very long time, so that your pet will not even feel that he is sick.
For this purpose, immunostimulating drugs (Interferon, Azidotimidine, Raltegravir) are prescribed. High-quality, nutritious nutrition plays an important role. The best choice would be super premium and holistic food. This is the kind of food they use for their pets at the Murkosha shelter.
Read more about the right food: What food to feed your cat
Chemotherapy stops the development of the tumor and, in some cases, reduces its size. Such therapy is carried out with the drugs Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, etc. Large tumors are removed surgically.
Blood transfusions and antianemic therapy provide good results in treating the disease.
Read about blood transfusions: Blood transfusions in cats
What makes FIP so severe?
FIP, or feline infectious peritonitis, is a virus belonging to the coronavirus family. The enteric form of coronavirus is common in young cats housed in catteries and shelters and usually causes only mild illness. FIP occurs when the intestinal form of the coronavirus mutates into a more aggressive virus. It occurs in a small percentage of cats but is a fatal disease.
Having cats in large numbers in close quarters is stressful and is thought to cause a very common intestinal virus to change to an aggressive viral form that causes FIP in some cats. FIP is a terrible disease that greatly frightens nursery and shelter owners. As considered by modern veterinarians: it is fatal and incurable. Accurate diagnosis is part of the strategy to prevent other cats from becoming infected with the virus in their feces.
Prevention
We all know that prevention is better than cure. And in the case of viral leukemia in cats, the surest option is vaccination. At the Murkosha shelter, we care about the health of our pets, so all our cats are required to receive vaccinations against leukemia and other infections.
More information about vaccination: Vaccinations for cats - what, how, why?
If the animal has already been ill, then it will need systematic observation by a specialist. Please note that such a cat should be the only pet in the family so as not to infect another.
Support your furry friend's immunity with a high-quality, balanced diet. An important role in the prevention of leukemia in kittens is played by cleanliness and ventilation of the room.
Viral leukemia is a dangerous “invisible” disease at first. But an attentive owner will do everything necessary to protect his affectionate purr, and in case of illness, provide her with a high-quality and decent life, strictly following the recommendations of the veterinarian.
What can you do to prevent your cat from getting leukemia?
Prevention of this disease is timely vaccination against leukemia, limiting access to the street and contact with other animals.
Vaccination can begin at 8–9 weeks of age, with the second dose (which is required for all FeLV vaccines) given 2–4 weeks later. Booster vaccination against FeLV should be repeated at the age of 1 year and then no more than once every 2-3 years for cats at risk.
Before vaccination against feline leukemia, it is necessary to do a blood test for carrier status, since vaccination of an infected animal is not effective!
Treatment or maintenance therapy for the cat
First of all, the cat owner must understand that FIV cannot be cured. It is only possible to achieve remission of the disease, alleviate the pet’s condition and alleviate symptoms.
There is no specific vaccine against FIV. The basis for the fight against immunodeficiency in cats is the treatment and prevention of secondary infections with the help of antibiotics (Ampiox, penicillin, Ampicillin, cephalosporins). As well as relief from severe illness.
Treatment of animals with special feline interferons, which interrupt the development of the virus, has become promising. The treatment plan includes:
- anti-influenza or anti-measles immunoglobulin for humans, dose 0.5-1 ml. It is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously 1 time/2-3 days. The duration is prescribed by the veterinarian, based on the cat’s well-being;
— vitamins and multivitamins;
- antihistamines (“Tavegil”, “Suprastin”, “Dimeldrol”, “Pipolfen”, etc.).
In some cases, antiretroviral drugs (Zidovudine) designed for humans are prescribed. They cannot completely cure FIV, but they improve the animal’s severe condition.
A FIV-infected cat should be monitored by a veterinarian at least once every six months to monitor the course of the disease. With maintenance therapy, a cat with immunodeficiency can live more than 6 years.
