jeni, i have NEVER seen or heard about mutated versions of FeLV--FeCoV, yes, which mutates into FIP. but this is something completely new, and i would like to see some backing for the statement.
there is significant research that implies that many truly positive FeLVs NEVER become symptomatic, and that they are NOT contagious--the 2008 AAFP guidelines show the citations for this, and it is NOT new research, just ignored. i have also never seen any ACTUAL data proving the latency theory: with cats who are never retested after a negative test, there's no way that we will ever know that the cat wasn't positive all over. there has just not been enough research done to know how long a truly positive cat DOES shed the virus. they DO have a pretty good idea of that with FeCoV, because it's so common (over 100 strains, i believe). i guess i want a definition of latent: yes, a positive can go years without becoming symptomatic, and if that's all it means, fine. however, i've been seeing if used for cats who only test negative once.... more input, as they say! MC -- Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... MaryChristine Special-Needs Coordinator, Purebred Cat Breed Rescue (www.purebredcats.org) Member, SCAT (Special-Cat Action Team) _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
