Hello Rhonda!
Thank you for rescuing Pilgrim over the Thanksgiving
holiday. That was so sweet!
Unfortunately, most veterinarians who come in contact
with a Feline Leukemia (FeLV) positive cats (as well
as with other known viruses) will immediately
recommend euthanasia since it is currently an
incurable disease. The fear factor is that FeLV
positive cats can "infect" FeLV negative cats.
However, this is not always the case.
I am sure that other members will be quick to jump in
on this conversation as they have been around the
disease much longer than I have. I was first
introduced to FeLV back in 2002.
According to your post, you both have done a superb
job with the diagnostic testing.
The first test is usually a generic in-house ELISA
test. My positive was tested with a generic in-house
Snap Combo FeLV/FIV ELISA test, which is basically the
same thing, only my ELISA tested both for FeLV and FIV
(Feline AIDS.)
If the ELISA comes back positive then usually it is at
the pet guardian's request to have the official
Immunofluorescence Assay/Antibody (IFA) confirmation
test ran, because most veterinarians are satisfied
with the ELISA results and will not recommend the IFA.
Out of these two (2)tests (ELISA and IFA) the IFA is
the big kahuna.
If the ELISA comes back negative, but the IFA reads
positive, the IFA's results overrides the ELISA and
the cat is classified as FeLV positive for life.
However, if the ELISA results are positive and the IFA
reads negative, then the cat is classified as negative
for life. The reason being that the IFA is a more
thorough and reliable test.
The ELISA's are notorious for throwing "false"
positives. No one understands "exactly" why that
occurs for sure. There are several theories on that
specific issue, but none have ever been confirmed. It
just happens.
Also, to make the situation more complicated (sorry,
it is a complicated disease) the ELISA has also been
known to thrown a "false" negative. Now this result
very rarely EVER happens, but it has. The "false"
positives are extremely more common than the "false"
negatives.
The best definition that I have been able to come up
with for a "false" positive is this:
A "false" positive is when a cat/kitten has tested
positive for FeLV on an ELISA and when tested a second
time (through a second ELISA or IFA) the results are
negative.
A "false" negative" is just the opposite.
As stated previously stated, there are a number of
reasons why a cat would test positive on one test and
negative on another.
First, the test performed inadequately and needs to be
repeated.
Second, the cat may have been too young to test for
FeLV to begin with. For reasons not quite understood,
the majority of veterinarians require that the cat be
a certain age before running the first test. Usually,
the cat must been over six (6) weeks old. (Or so I
have been told.) This process is "supposed" to eluate
"false" positive results on an ELISA.
In my opinion, this method do NOT work. If the cat has
full-blown FeLV he/she will test positive no matter
what age, no matter WHICH test is used. My beloved
Peeper did.
Second, the cat could have been "exposed" to the FeLV
via the mother while in the uterus and developed
antibodies to the virus causing his/her own immune
system to fight off the disease. This is more commonly
known as "throwing off the virus."
In this case, the cat was never truly a FeLV positive
carrier. He/she was just tested during the same time
frame his/her body was producing antibodies to fight
off the disease. Antibodies WILL show on and ELISA,
but does not ALWAYS mean that the cat has FeLV. It
simply means that antibodies were present while the
test was being performed.
And last, but not least, the cat could truly be FeLV
positive and converted to FeLV negative. Once this
happens the cat could remain asymptomatic for life and
just be a dormant carrier of the virus. However, under
stressful situations could and does active the virus
and if tested the results will come back positive.
Again, it is not clearly understood why some FeLV cats
convert to a negative result when others do not.
Several experts have speculated that it has something
to due with the cat's genetic makeup and immune
system. The stronger the immune system, the greater
possibility that the body will fight off the virus.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case for every
FeLV positive.
So, where does that leave you? Is Pilgrim officially
FeLV negative or FeLV positive? Based solely on the
IFA confirmation results I would say that Pilgrim is
currently FeLV negative. However, she may NOT remain
that way.
Therefore, is re-testing necessary? That is strictly
up to the pet guardian. Pet guardians can test however
often or little they want. It is a decision based on
how comfortable you are with the results.
Some pet guardians test twice a year while others
simply test once a year. Some individuals only test
the cat once in it's entire life time. The answer
varies tremendously with each individual case.
Me personally, I test twice a year at six (6) months
apart and always with an IFA. If you WANT to re-test
or if your veterinarian is recommending that you
re-test, ALWAYS go with the IFA due to it thoroughness
and reliability. This test is more accurate than ANY
ELISA.
Again, how far apart each test is is up to the pet
guardian. It is whatever you feel most comfortable
with. I have known several pet guardians who test two
(2) months apart while others choose three (3). I
divide my testing in between a six (6) month period.
It is what worked best for me and my kitty.
I never mix my negatives with my positive. Peeper
had been quarantined to his own room, away from
the other cats, and remain separated to the day he
died. He had own water/food bowl, litter box, litter
scoop, and medical syringes. Nothing, and I mean
NOTHING was shared between my FeLV positive and my
negatives. Even though ALL of my kids have been
vaccinated (every third year) against this deadly
disease, I still refused to mix them.
This is also another personal preference. Some pet
guardians choose to mix their negatives with their
positives while others do not. It is a decision that
you have to make based on your comfortability and
resources. Some individuals do not have the space to
separate or they may not find it inhumane to lock a
positive away by him/her self.
I was in the process of adopting a FeLV positive
playmate for Peeper, but unfortunately, he passed away
before the arrangements could be made.
Not every method works for every cat. You must treat
each individual case separately and evaluate all the
data given; thus, making the best educated guess based
on that specific criteria. I wish it was more black
and white, but unfortunately it is not. For it was, I
strongly believe we would have a cure by now.
The best advice I can give is this:
Because FeLV status DOES indeed change i.e. going from
FeLV positive to FeLV negative I strongly recommend
that you ALWAYS have a IFA performed with EACH
vaccination update.
IF you decide to vaccinate Pilgrim with the FeLV
vaccination now that she is currently negative, I
cannot stress to you enough the importance of having
her tested BEFORE ANY vaccinations are given.
This is due to the fact that IF she does convert back
to a FeLV positive status you DO NOT want to have the
FeLV vaccination administered. It would be a
double-dose of the virus and will only make her more
sick, if not kill her. Once her immune system is
compromised with the Feline Leukemia it most likely
will NOT withstand another attack from the
vaccination.
I ALWAYS have my cats tested with an IFA BEFORE ANY
annual veterinary recommended vaccines are given. It
keeps me updated with their FeLV status and determines
which cat gets what vaccine.
As far as her heat/estrus cycle or simply "estrus,"
the length of time of the cycles and the frequency of
them depends upon many factors, such as geographic and
environmental factors, (temperature and the number of
daylight hours), her age and overall health and her
genetic background.
Once a queen goes into heat she may stay in heat for
several days to 2-3 weeks. Some queens, once they are
sexually mature and enter estrus, do not come out of
heat unless or until they are either bred to a full
male cat or spayed.
The majority of queens will cycle in and out of estrus
during the prime breeding season (roughly December
through August), returning back into heat
approximately every other week.
Basically, you can expect Pilgrim to go into heat once
a month until spayed. I highly recommend that if you
are not going to breed Pilgrim, that you have her
spayed immediately for she is at or beyond the
recommended age for the procedure. Although, ANY cat
(male or female) can be altered at ANY age, it is best
to have the operation done BEFORE the first heat cycle
begins.
I sincerely hope that I have been of some assistance
in answering your questions. If you have any more,
please do not hesitate to ask. Other members will be
more than happy to help. Take care and please keep us
updated on Pilgrim's prognosis.
Lora
--- Jim & Rhonda Andersen
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi everyone!
We rescued a sweet tuxedo kitten over Thanksgiving
who tested positive on the initial ELISA test. Having
4 other cats, we isolated "Pilgrim" while we
decided what to do. Our vet recommended euthanasia,
but we knew there had to be other options.
After much research, we learned about the IFA test and
had that drawn. We were overjoyed to find that one
negative, and were anxious to introduce her to our
furry household.
However, our vet recommended a second ELISA to be
drawn. He seemed to stumble over his words not really
giving a stisfactory rationale for it. I think he was
trying to say that she could still be a carrier of the
virus.
Could someone enlighten me on whether this is
necessary? It seems that a second IFA would be more
telling.
Do we need to keep her isolated until this is done?
She's so sweet and sociable, and I know she'd be a
great fit into our family, but we don't want to put
our other cats at risk.
At least she's got the best view in the house, closed
off in the dining room and heated sunroom. She loves
the birdfeeders and loves playing peek-a-boo with the
squirrels at the sliding door!
Rhonda, along with Jessie (18 yrs old and deaf)
Bamm-Bamm (15 yrs old, 18lbs and diabetic), Zoey (4 yr
old spoiled beauty) and Sam (2 yr old tuxedo
rescued from Sam's Club parking lot)
PS. Pilgrim surprised us with her first heat cycle
last week! When should we expect the next one? We
think she has to be 6 months old at the very most.
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