In the days prior to the Internet (and even now), hysteria and rumors overshadow public health facts concerning infectious diseases and vaccination. For example, Polio, also called infantile paralysis, is a viral disease spread by sneezing and fecal contaminated water that dates back to Ancient Egypt. In the sickest children, beyond being unable to walk, contorted spines, and shriveling leg muscles, the virus paralyzes the breathing muscles leading to suffocation.
Until the 19th century many children were exposed during pregnancy and subsequent infancy to filthy hygiene practices and the virus. The mother’s antibodies protected them during these silent infections and children developed resistance to Polio subsequently for life. With improved public sewer and water filtration systems, children developed clinical disease later in life when their mother’s passive protection was gone.In July of 1916, an outbreak in Brooklyn, led to the mass gassing of over 72,000 cats as they were falsely believed to carry the virus. Armed gunmen manned exit and entry points from Manhattan into New Jersey towns as part of the hysteria of parents trying to flee the city with their children.
As late as the 1940’s to early 1950’s more than 35,000 people got the disease each year. What is the point? Immunizations (vaccines) save lives. I can distinctly remember going to Cary High School to have the oral sugar cube polio vaccine administered in the early 1960’s. The USA has been polio-free since 1979.
It is important to review risk assessments and make informed choices with all vaccine programs. Today’s blog features cats and specifically Feline Leukemia and vaccines.WHAT IS FELINE LEUKEMIA?
It is a contagious viral infection of cats, not transmissible to dogs or people, that can lead to anemia, tumors, and death. The populations at risk are cats younger than 1 year of age and over 10 years of age with exposure to other virus-positive cats. There is no cure and it is most often fatal.WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OF THIS DISEASE?During the early stages of infection it is common for cats to exhibit no signs of the disease at all. However, over time—weeks, months, or even years—the cat's health may progressively deteriorate or be characterized by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Common signs can include: loss of appetite, weight loss, pale gums, unthrifty coat, enlarged lymph nodes, pale gums, GI signs, seizures, eye problems, abortion of kittens by mother cats, fever, weakness, and severe respiratory disease.
HOW IS IT SPREAD and DIAGNOSED?Feline leukemia is spread from contact with an infected cat through saliva in bite wounds, shared food/water bowls, and from the mother while in the womb, nursing, or grooming. It is diagnosed through a blood test* available from most veterinarians (do not use the saliva based tests). It is estimated that two to three percent of the cat population in the United States has the disease. That number rises to greater than 13% in rescues, young kitten colonies, or sick populations of cats. The numbers have decreased in recent years due to rapid blood screening of cats at intake facilities and vaccines.* No test is 100% accurate, and all positives should be re-tested at a later date. If negative with high exposure risk, once again, re-test in 30 days.
- Some cats will be resistant..-test negative
- Some cats will develop a latent or hidden infection with no outward signs and no shedding of the virus.-test positive
- Some cats will become infected, pass on the virus in their saliva, and develop clinical disease later.-test positive
SHOULD CATS BE VACCINATED FOR FELINE LEUKEMIA TO LOWER THE RISK?It is recommended that all kittens under one year of age (once tested negative OR their queen mother tests negative) that may slip out the door and all cats with potential exposure to outdoor cats should have the vaccine. It consists of two injections starting at 12 weeks of age, repeated in three weeks. Then repeat yearly for cats going outside. The vaccine does not interfere with testing results.ARE THERE OTHER STEPS?
Keep YOUR cat indoors, or utilize an outdoor enclosure that lowers exposure to other cats, and adopt only FeLV infection-free cats.
WHAT DO I DO IF I DISCOVER ONE OF MY MANY CATS IS POSITIVE?
Test all other cats in the household for FeLV to identify any carriers. Ideally, infected and non-infected cats should then be separated to eliminate the potential for FeLV transmission.MY CAT IS FELINE LEUKEMIA (FE-LV) POSITIVE BUT SHOWING NO SIGNS. CAN I GET ANOTHER CAT?It is not recommended to adopt another cat unless the new addition is positive as well.
Betsy T. Sigmon DVM, Diplomate ABVP, Canine and Feline
Creature Comforts Animal Hospital
Cary, NC
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