Feline leukemias: Features of pathogenic changes in blood

Abstract

Feline viral leukemia is a widespread disease in various countries around the world. According to the data provided by nation-wide data sets, from 3.1% of cats (in the USA) to 24.5% (in Thailand) tested positive for FeLV. In Ukraine, there are practically no results of studying this phenomenon. Leukemia is a malignant blood disease. According to various sources, the animals die within 3–4 years, there is also the possibility of recovery, but the greatest danger is the hidden, chronic course, the virus carriers and the unlimited possibility of spreading the virus, both among domestic and among street animals. The latent course and long incubation period of this disease impede timely diagnosis and effective therapeutic measures. Infection of healthy animals can occur as a result of contact with infected animals, during participation in exhibitions, during the breeding of animals, contacts with stray cats. Manifestations of viral leukemia can vary, affecting primarily the work of the immune system. The pathogenic mechanisms of the disease development should be studied in connection with viral damage to bone marrow stem cells and impaired blood formation processes, the development of an immunodeficiency state. The identification of qualitative and quantitative changes in blood cells and the determination of pathogenic mechanisms of disease development are necessary for early diagnosis of the disease and prevention of infection in healthy animals. Detection of specific signs typical for the leukemic blood picture in cats is a necessary part of a comprehensive diagnosis, together with specific studies (PCR, etc.). A blood test is the primary stage of detecting a disease. Specific structural and functional changes, in particular neutrophils, lymphocytes and erythrocytes, allow us to broaden our understanding of the development of symptoms, the course of the disease and possible outcomes