Re: [Felvtalk] LTCI Response
Christy, I'm so sorry to hear about your little Gray Kitty! When our cat Parker died earlier this month, I found out about LTCI afterwards. I wondered if I would have known about it sooner if I could have given him this medicine to help him. He was severely anemic towards the end with no red blood cells. From what you are indicating, it may get to a point with the illness where it's too late, huh? I wish you the best with the precious time you have left with your little one. It certainly makes you appreciate the time you have together, I'm sure. I recently made a picture book (using my laptop & digital photos) in memoriam to Parker. It was my special way of honoring him and whenever I look at it it's a mixed bag of emotions (sadness that he's gone, but happiness at the good memories we formed). I don't know if you have taken many pictures of your Gray Kitty, but it may help later to have all of those memories in picture form to look back and reminisce. Take care. *Hugs* Amber Amber, We have been using LTCI on our little Gray Kitty. However, since his diagnosis on September 6 of this year, the disease has progressed to his bone marrow. At this point we are not sure if anything will help him. We have not run into another situation such as ours. We took in a stray pregnant female in 2007, which tested negative for the FelV. She had 3 male kittens, which we all kept. Our Gray Kitty is the only one that has been diagnosed with the FelV. The other two test negative. Also Gray Kitty is the only one with the B type blood. We are so puzzled, shocked, and very saddened that he has come down with this disease. We know our time with him is so very precious. Amber, _ Get more done, have more fun, and stay more connected with Windows Mobile®. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119642556/direct/01/ ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Thank you everyone!
Amber, We have been using LTCI on our little Gray Kitty. However, since his diagnosis on September 6 of this year, the disease has progressed to his bone marrow. At this point we are not sure if anything will help him. We have not run into another situation such as ours. We took in a stray pregnant female in 2007, which tested negative for the FelV. She had 3 male kittens, which we all kept. Our Gray Kitty is the only one that has been diagnosed with the FelV. The other two test negative. Also Gray Kitty is the only one with the B type blood. We are so puzzled, shocked, and very saddened that he has come down with this disease. We know our time with him is so very precious. > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:00:13 +> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Thank you everyone!> > > I just wanted to thank everyone who posted in response to my "LTIC/Imulan & Losing Kitties" message. Your support and well wishes were wonderful and encouraging! > > Others who don't know much about FeLV can have some interesting responses sometimes. I had one of my neighbors come over to feed our cat Neo for a couple of days while we were away once. She ended up coming down with some horrible rash around the same time all over her body. She instantly thought it was due to FeLV. Even her vet told her it wouldn't have caused those symptoms in people! I don't know if she ever found out the true cause of her skin condition, but again the first thought was to blame my cat!> > But I digress. Hopefully I'll find a cat sitter next time I go away that isn't fearful of the illness. > > We started Neo on the LTIC shots this past week. He's in good health now so hopefully it will prolong his life. Does anyone have experience with LTIC with their kitties?> > Thanks again and I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. :)> Amber> > > > _> Get more done, have more fun, and stay more connected with Windows Mobile®. > http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119642556/direct/01/> ___> Felvtalk mailing list> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _ Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to suspicious email. http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_safety_112008 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] ELISA & IFA
Update: Well, MaryChristine is dead right when she says the "...experts can't agree". My vet called me back in response to my request for a serum ELISA and said he has *never* had a problem with using whole blood (though he'll be happy to do serum if that's what's wanted). So basically he's at odds with the (feline-specialty) vet on his staff who had told me serum was the ONLY way to go! (I did tell him about the fact she and I had spoken and that she had been emphatic about using serum.) He went online to a "vet only" website while we were on the phone and pulled up a word doc (2003), and an email (2008). The relevant info in the word doc appears to favor serum, plasma, saliva & tears; the email is from Susan Little DVM. But she's not talking from her own experience, nor does she make a categoric statement that whole blood is as accurate. She does say there were concerns in the past about using whole blood but "doesn't think" that's the current case. At any rate, I think we'll be doing an IFA next when funds allow. Unlike the vet on his staff, my vet didn't feel the necessity to start over with ELISA/serum. Kerry PS Not allowed to send the whole attachment to list, but if anyone wants it (possible outdated-ness notwithstanding) just let me have your private address and I'll forward. Diagnostic Methods for Feline Viral Pathogens ACVIM 2003 Melissa A. Kennedy, DVM, PhD, DACVM Knoxville, TN introduction Diagnosis of viral infections of cats can be a challenge for the practitioner. Identification of the infectious agent involved in a disease is important not only for determination of the best treatment protocol, but also in terms of control and prevention. The variety of diagnostic assays available, the advent of newer molecular assays, and the differing recommendations that may be offered from diagnostic laboratories can be confusing. Interpretation of the results of the assays used also may not be straightforward-results may vary with the sample, methodology, and laboratory utilized. In an attempt to clarify some of the issues important in viral diagnostics, the general methodology of the available assays will be briefly described. Individual agents and the various diagnostic assays useful for each will be explained and include Feline Herpesvirus-1, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Parvovirus/Canine Parvovirus-2b, Feline Coronavirus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, and Feline Leukemia Virus. Feline Leukemia Virus Detection of viral antigen is the test of choice for feline leukemia virus. While viral antibody may be present, it does not provide information on whether the animal is persistently infected with the virus. Also, the use of the FeLV vaccine can complicate interpretation of results. The test used most commonly is the ELISA, of which there are a number available. This test assays for the p27 core antigen of FeLV and may be done on serum/plasma, saliva, or tears, depending upon the kit. IFA may also be used on whole blood smears. The ELISA is a sensitive assay, and can detect infection during the primary viremia. The majority of cats positive at this stage will go on to clear the virus, thus retesting of positive cats is required to determine the persistence of infection (2). IFA does not detect infection until the secondary viremia, after infection of precursor cells in the bone marrow; thus, animals positive by IFA are less likely to clear the virus (2). ELISA +, IFA-cats should be retested in 2-3 months; ELISA -, IFA + cats are uncommon and should also be retested. False positive results occur at a significant rate among ELISA kits (4). This can be due to the use in some kits of mouse antibody to capture the FeLV antigen, and the presence of antibody to mouse immunoglobulin in some cats (2). False positive results with ELISA's have also been documented due to the use of whole blood. False positive results using IFA have been documented with some anticoagulants (2). Therefore, use of fresh whole blood to make the smears is recommended. PCR has been investigated for detection of latent infections in bone marrow, but has not proven superior to ELISA/IFA combinations (5). REFERENCES 1. Andrew, Stacy E. (2000), "Feline Infectious Peritonitis", in Veterinar Clinics of North America, Small Animal Practice, September, 30(5):987-1000. 2. Barr, Margaret C. (1996), "FIV, FeLV, and FIPV: Interpretation and Misinterpretation of Serological Test Results", Sem. In Vet. Med. And Surg., August, 11(3): 144-153. 3. Burgesser, Kent M., Stephanie Hotaling, Anita Schiebel, Scott E. Ashbaugh, Steven M. Roberts, and James K. Collins (1999), "Comparison of PCR, Virus Isolation, and, Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Staining in the Detection of Naturally Occurring Feline Herpesvirus Infections" , J. Vet. Diag. Invest., March, 11:122-126. 4. Hartmann, K., R. M. Werner, H. Egberink, and O. Jarrett (2001), "Comparison of Six In-House Tests
Re: [Felvtalk] Thank you everyone!
I just wanted to thank everyone who posted in response to my "LTIC/Imulan & Losing Kitties" message. Your support and well wishes were wonderful and encouraging! Others who don't know much about FeLV can have some interesting responses sometimes. I had one of my neighbors come over to feed our cat Neo for a couple of days while we were away once. She ended up coming down with some horrible rash around the same time all over her body. She instantly thought it was due to FeLV. Even her vet told her it wouldn't have caused those symptoms in people! I don't know if she ever found out the true cause of her skin condition, but again the first thought was to blame my cat! But I digress. Hopefully I'll find a cat sitter next time I go away that isn't fearful of the illness. We started Neo on the LTIC shots this past week. He's in good health now so hopefully it will prolong his life. Does anyone have experience with LTIC with their kitties? Thanks again and I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. :) Amber _ Get more done, have more fun, and stay more connected with Windows Mobile®. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119642556/direct/01/ ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
