Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses

Levy, Julie

doi:10.1002/9781119294382.ch23

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…FeLV is more transmissible among cats with prolonged close contact. However, adult cats have a degree of natural immunity, vaccines are available to boost natural immunity, and the risk of transmission within household remains undefined ( 1 , 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sterilization also provides the benefit of reducing the primary factors in transmission of FeLV (dams infecting their kittens) and FIV (bite wounds among brawling intact male cats). The AAFP does not recommend routine testing of cats in TNR/RTF programs because cat population management, prevention of excess kitten births, individual cat welfare, and the spread of FeLV and FIV are all better served by investing available resources in sterilizing the most cats possible ( 1 , 3 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses that are among the most common infectious diseases of cats ( 1 ). FeLV is spread by close contact among cats, especially from queens to kittens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, transmission of FIV among co-habituating cats is uncommon unless they fight, so there is less certainty about the need to segregate FIV-infected cats from uninfected cats as long as they are amicable ( 5 ). An exception to the universal testing guideline exists for healthy free-roaming community cats enrolled in trap-neuter-return (TNR) and return-to-field (RTF) programs ( 1 , 3 ). Most testing is performed in shelters and veterinary clinics using blood samples in rapid point-of-care devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasingly, shelter programs aim to save all animals that are not suffering or dangerous to society, even if their long-term outcome is uncertain ( 7 ). As a result, some shelters have developed adoption programs for FeLV and FIV positive cats ( 1 , 3 , 8 ). Little is known about the current status of retroviral management in animal shelters, particularly in regions burdened by chronic pet overpopulation and high animal shelter admissions, such as the southern United States.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Animal shelter management of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats

Dezubiria

Amirian²,

Spera

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Approximately 5% of cats in animal shelters in the United States test positive for either feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which translates to more than 100,000 positive cats managed by shelters each year. Little is known about the current status of retroviral management in animal shelters, particularly in regions burdened by chronic pet overpopulation and high shelter admissions, such as the southern United States. The purpose of this study was to describe feline retroviral management in Florida shelters. Shelters were surveyed on practices including selection of cats for testing, diagnostic techniques, and outcome options for cats with positive test results. Responses were received from 139 of 153 animal shelters known to admit cats, including 55 municipal shelters (40%), 70 private shelters (50%), and 14 private shelters with municipal contracts (10%). A total of 115 shelters (83%) performed at least some testing, most using combination point-of-care devices for simultaneous FeLV antigen and FIV antibody screening. Of shelters that performed any testing, 56 (49%) tested all cats for FeLV and 52 (45%) tested all cats for both FeLV and FIV. The most common reason for testing was screening adoptable cats (108 shelters; 94%) and cats available for transfer to other organizations (78; 68%). Testing cats in trap-neuter-return/return-to-field programs was least common (21; 18%). Most common outcome options for positive cats included adoption (74; 64%), transfer (62; 54%), and euthanasia (49; 43%). Euthanasia following a positive test result was more common for cats with FeLV (49; 43%) than for cats with FIV (29; 25%) and was more common in municipal shelters, rural shelters, shelters taking in <500 cats a year, and shelters with overall live outcome rates for cats <70%. Although Florida shelter compliance with national guidelines for identification and management of FeLV and FIV positive cats was variable, most had live outcome options for at least some of their cats with positive test results. Increased access to training and practical programmatic tools may help more shelters implement cost-effective testing protocols, reduce risk for transmission to other cats, and support the best outcomes for this vulnerable population of cats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%