Hi Sally . . .Thank you so very much for this informative response. Is it ok with you if I forward this information to our other two members?
Both cats were tested with the ELISA, but not the in-house snap. . .bloodwork was sent to our local lab. I've talked with our vet regarding the IFA test. . .but the real problem is finding housing for these two. . . we're willing to pay for transport anywhere in the U.S. . . .I've contacted everyone I know regarding fostering, etc . . .even offered to take healthy cats to adopt in exchange for each FeLV cat . . .but everyone is in the same position . . .too many kitties . . . overwhelmed with rescue . . .we are a small group . . .just three of us . . .we just don't have room to isolate on a long term basis . . . : ( . . .would love to find a home for these kitties . . .There are still two shelters (who take sick kitties) I have contacted who haven't responded yet . . .but shelter placement will be a stressful situation for them . . .I've been successful placing FIV kitties in the past . . .maybe my luck is running out. I've tried to post Bobbie's picture on the FeLV site . . . but haven't been successful. Her picture is on our Petfinder website. I have not yet gotten a picture of Twila, the adult. The information you've provided is fantastic . . .I so very much appreciate your taking the time to write. . .I won't give up trying to place these kitties until I'm forced to. Sally Q ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 2:57 PM Subject: Re: New To List > Dear Sally: > > Did the cats test positive on both an ELISA and an IFA test? If they were > just tested with the ELISA (the in-house snap test), this test is much more > sensitive to the antigen produced by the replicating virus so it can be an > indication of an infection which may only be transitory and there is a chance the > virus can be cleared. While this is more likely with an adult cat than a kitten, > it is not impossible for a kitten who tests positive early on to later test > negative. I have one who was positive at 6 weeks but retested negative a 6 mos. > when he was neutered. > > If an IFA test was not done, I would strongly urge you to do so as this can > give you an indication of what stage of infection the cats may be in and a > better idea as to their chance for long-term survival. According to Dr. Richard > Pitcairn, there are six stages of FeLV infection. The ELISA is 100 times more > sensitive so a positive result on this test can indicate the earlier stages of > infection as well as the latter ones. A positive IFA correlates well with > stage 4 and up. While it is possible for a cat in early stage to still clear the > virus, it is more likely an IFA+ cat will remain persistently viremic. It is > not until stage five that a cat is actively shedding the virus and so > infectious to others, and it takes repeated and direct contact with a cat who is > shedding the virus to result in infection. A cat persistently infected with FeLV > and immunocompromised is actually more at risk of exposure to other cats than > are healthy adult cats at risk from exposure to a cat which is infected with > FeLV. Not all FeLV+ cats are shedding the virus, and it is not the easiest > virus to transmit...it does not live long outside its host. > > Kittens are most at risk of infection...not only because they have an > immature immune system but because lymphocytes in a kitten produce 50 times more > virus than those of an adult cat. Kittens infected before birth by an infected > mom, or shortly after birth through nursing or mutual grooming, have the worst > prognosis for survival. It is said around 50% won't make it through their > first year. Those that do may continue to do well until around age 2-3-4. Some > manage to live a relatively normal life span. What seems to determine this is > whether or not the relatively benign FeLV-A subgroup of the virus, which is > the only form that is passed from one cat to another, eventually recombines with > the cat's DNA and mutates into one of the more virulent subgroups. The > FeLV-A+B is the one associated with lymphomas and other cancers. The FeLV-A+C is > the one associated with severe/non-regenerative anemia. It is possible for > both mutations to occur and a cat to develop FeLV-A+B+C, which is the worst case > scenario. > > If both these cats are currently non-symptomatic, there is no reason to > consider euthanasia at this point. If they can be maintained in an environment > relatively free of stress -- and that includes such stressors to the immune > system as vaccines (which can actually trigger a latent infection into an active > one), toxic drugs and toxins in poor quality food -- and fed a good quality diet > (preferably raw-based) with some immune-boosting supplements, their chance > for survival is much better than otherwise. > > Some of our listmembers have cats who are 6 years and older, some have lived > into their teens. I lost my first FeLV+ furbaby at 8 mos. to non-regenerative > anemia...I did not know Purrsia was FeLV+ prior to that. Her playmate, Angel > Eyes, who was, in retrospect, probably the source of infection, tested > positive two weeks after Purrsia passed, but thrived for another seven months, then > suddenly crashed at 18 mos. and was gone 14 days later due to what was > probably lymphoma in her lungs. I currently have two more FeLV+ kittens, a brother > and sister, now 18 mos. old, who tested positive at 12 weeks and again at 6 > mos. and have remained stable and non-symptomatic except for mild gingivitis. > They are on a raw-based diet and immune support with Transfer Factor, Oli-Vet., > Vit. C, and CoQ10. My miracle baby, Purrki, was put on the same protocol > from the day I brought him home at 6 weeks with runny eyes and horrible diarrhea. > His symptoms cleared within a few days given some TF therapy, probiotics and > a homeopathic remedy for diarrhea. He has retested negative and is thriving. > > If you are not able to find a permanent placement for these cats right away, > perhaps you can find someone who is willing to foster them until one can be > found? There is much than can be done to keep these kittys stable and it would > be such a shame for them to be denied a chance just because they have tested > positive. There is so much ignorance and misinformation about FeLV. Yes, > the prognosis is better for cats with FIV, but being FeLV+ should not be an > automatic death sentence. There is a liklihood the cats may not live to old age, > but it is not a given they will crash and die soon. I do hope you are able to > give them a chance to know what it is to be loved and have a home for however > long their immune systems can hold out, and perhaps may be able to clear the > virus. > > Please keep us posted. > > Sally in San Jose > >
