RE: new with a ? on ELISA vs IFA

[MacKenzie, Kerry N.]

Title: Message

Hi Jim & Rhonda   You may find the following useful to consider along with all the other info you get--it's an excerpt from the The New Natural Cat--A Complete Guide for Finicky Owners, by Anitra Frazier-- it's in the Feline Leukemia section on pages 326/327) . (It's an excellent book, and the section on FeLV, while not very long, is very useful.) I have always kept my FeLV kitties totally separate from my 3 healthy cats. I know however that many members have successfully merged, after ensuring their healthy cats were (and continue to be) vaccinated against FeLV. On my vet's recommendation I stopped the FeLV vac after my cats became indoor cats (this was before I got the FeLV pos cats). I don't feel comfortable with having my healthy cats starting the FeLV vaccinations again (and even if I did I'm not comfortable with merging them all) so the 2 groups remain separate. Just a thought: would you perhaps be able to consider keeping the groups separate and taking in another of the many homeless FeLV kitties to keep Pilgrim company? As I say, just a thought--I'm sure you've already given it consideration. Good luck to you & Pilgrim! Kerry (book excerpt follows:) "When a positive cat---one carrying the virus--comes into contact with a negative cat--one not carrying the virus--the negative, but exposed cat may: *not become affected in any way; *become infected (positive), develop immunity, and revert again to being negative; *become positive, but not become ill and remain positive--thus becoming a new carrier of the virus; *become positive and develop lymphosarcoma, leukemia, or other cancer; or *become positive and be ill from the virus infection, much like flu; and then recover and remain positive or become negative. A positive cat who has not developed cancer can be tested again in three months. If he has been treated by an experienced veterinary homeopath and put on a high-quality diet designed to build general health and strengthen the immune system, chances are good that he will have reverted to negative. " (I should add that mine, sadly, did not revert. Kerry)  From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim & Rhonda Andersen Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 9:47 PM To: felvtalk@vlists.net Subject: Fw: new with a ? on ELISA vs IFA 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 satisfactory 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.   This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.

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