Feline leukaemia virus testing

Authors: Lee EA, Jones BR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 29, Issue 10, pp 188-189, Oct 1981
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cat, Companion animal
Subject Terms: Circulatory system/haematology, Diagnostic procedures, Disease/defect, Neoplasia, Oncology, Viral
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Cat owners, cat breeders and veterinarians are now well aware that feline leukaemia virus (Felv) is a cause of serious disease in cats and also that Felv is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases other than lymphosarcoma. Epidemiological studies using a variety of techniques to detect virus and antibodies have defined populations of cats that are at risk from the effects of the virus and methods of control have been suggested. All methods of control are based on separation of Felv-infected cats from susceptible animals. To do this, viraemic cats need to be identified either by the demonstration of Felv-specific antigen in the cytoplasm of circulating leucocytes or platelets (by immunofluorescence on blood smears), demonstration of viral antigen in serum or plasma, or by isolation of virus from the plasma in feline cell cultures. In the United States there was widespread use of the fixed cell immunofluorescence test which became available commercially in 1971 (Feleuk Test-National Veterinary Laboratory) to detect viraemic cats…

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