Re: [Felvtalk] FeLV misconceptions
I have never had to test kittens for FeLV, only for FIV. My vet says that under 10 weeks of age, chances for false positives are high. From my experience with FIV, one can tell if it's a true positive or maternal antibodies showing. I may have written it once in the past, but I have NEVER had any kittens from all the FIV+ mothers that were positive. I know that it probably isn't the same with FeLV - I have only had one kitten, about 15 yrs. ago; it died before age 3 months - I was treating him with Interferon. Now, I have two adult FeLV+ males with absolutely no symptoms, but would like to treat them with something other than the vitamins. Natalie -Original Message- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Georgetta Brickey Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 10:03 PM To: FeLV List Subject: [Felvtalk] FeLV misconceptions Hi list, I think quite a few people get feline leukemia confused with panleukopenia. They sort of rhyme and may sound alike to the uninformed. Panleukopenia organisms DO persist for a very long time (years) in the environment unless very stringent measures are taken, including bleaching everything,etc. FeLV organisms are much more fragile and only survive more than a few minutes if the conditions are perfect, right temperature, moisture, etc. That is why unvaccinated cats can contract it through exchange of fluids (sex, fights, grooming) and to a lesser extent, from sharing litterboxes and water and food bowls. The Panleuk vaccine is extremely effective in confering immunity. The FeLV vaccine isn't quite as good but TONs better than doing nothing. There is an enormous amount of good information online about these and other conditions. This year I had my very first kitten in the 7 years of fostering kittens (200+) with a confirmed positive FeLV, followed later by another + kitten (both were isolated/quarantined at intake and the first was out of the house before the other arrived.) I spent quite a few hours searching and reading and learned amazing things from this list and from googling... and also found a great sanctuary for Wisp (Thanks a Trillion, Michael J!) here. The second kitten was transferred to another foster who combined 3 litters before getting each tested...not so good outcome... Lucky and another kitten from one of the combined litters were confirmed positive for FeLV and ended up at a wonderful sanctuary in SLO county. The other 4 kittens are now 6 months old and 2 are finally being shown for adoption (one got adopted today). The other 2 were adopted to a family who had no other cats and all 4 have re-tested negative repeatedly. It really reinforced the importance of TESTING BEFORE YOU MIX litters just my 2 cents... One question I have for the FeLV group - How young do you test for FeLV? I know there is the concern about maternal antibodies triggering a false positive, but if a Negative is really a Negative on the Snap (ELISA) test... shouldn't you be able to test pretty young/small kittens, provided you can draw the blood required? I know there might be a greater chance of a false positive, but taking the into account, you should be able to clear at a pretty young age, maybe 3-4 weeks? That way you could clear the negatives and relax a bit, then be supercareful to keep the + kittens in quarantine as long as necessary to clear or confirm! Any experience or insight would be greatly appreciated. (I am ccing to orphankittens and the feralcats groups for more input.) Thanks and good luck with your cats and kittens, Georgetta (back from today's PETCO adoptions - placed just 2 older kittens in 4 hours - neither were any of the 8 I took to show for adoption... sigh... wish me better luck tomorrow.) www.CatsCradleRescue.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
[Felvtalk] FeLV misconceptions
Hi list, I think quite a few people get feline leukemia confused with panleukopenia. They sort of rhyme and may sound alike to the uninformed. Panleukopenia organisms DO persist for a very long time (years) in the environment unless very stringent measures are taken, including bleaching everything,etc. FeLV organisms are much more fragile and only survive more than a few minutes if the conditions are perfect, right temperature, moisture, etc. That is why unvaccinated cats can contract it through exchange of fluids (sex, fights, grooming) and to a lesser extent, from sharing litterboxes and water and food bowls. The Panleuk vaccine is extremely effective in confering immunity. The FeLV vaccine isn't quite as good but TONs better than doing nothing. There is an enormous amount of good information online about these and other conditions. This year I had my very first kitten in the 7 years of fostering kittens (200+) with a confirmed positive FeLV, followed later by another + kitten (both were isolated/quarantined at intake and the first was out of the house before the other arrived.) I spent quite a few hours searching and reading and learned amazing things from this list and from googling... and also found a great sanctuary for Wisp (Thanks a Trillion, Michael J!) here. The second kitten was transferred to another foster who combined 3 litters before getting each tested...not so good outcome... Lucky and another kitten from one of the combined litters were confirmed positive for FeLV and ended up at a wonderful sanctuary in SLO county. The other 4 kittens are now 6 months old and 2 are finally being shown for adoption (one got adopted today). The other 2 were adopted to a family who had no other cats and all 4 have re-tested negative repeatedly. It really reinforced the importance of TESTING BEFORE YOU MIX litters just my 2 cents... One question I have for the FeLV group - How young do you test for FeLV? I know there is the concern about maternal antibodies triggering a false positive, but if a Negative is really a Negative on the Snap (ELISA) test... shouldn't you be able to test pretty young/small kittens, provided you can draw the blood required? I know there might be a greater chance of a false positive, but taking the into account, you should be able to clear at a pretty young age, maybe 3-4 weeks? That way you could clear the negatives and relax a bit, then be supercareful to keep the + kittens in quarantine as long as necessary to clear or confirm! Any experience or insight would be greatly appreciated. (I am ccing to orphankittens and the feralcats groups for more input.) Thanks and good luck with your cats and kittens, Georgetta (back from today's PETCO adoptions - placed just 2 older kittens in 4 hours - neither were any of the 8 I took to show for adoption... sigh... wish me better luck tomorrow.) www.CatsCradleRescue.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] FeLV misconceptions
Hi Georgetta, A negative snap is not always negative. I rescued a litter of 5 six week olds, sickly runt was immediately quarantined, Elisa tested positive at seven weeks old. Her siblings were first tested at eight weeks old, all negative. One brother came down with a high fever at fourteen weeks, retested positive. He was probably so newly infected at the time of the first test that he didn't have enough antigens? or antibodies? (can never remember which one the test looks for) in his system yet. Both of my positives are now gone, their 3 vaccinated siblings remained negative. I know it is not practical for rescues to hang on to a kitten for months waiting to retest and confirm the negatives, but FWIW I don't really trust a single snap test, positive or negative, especially if it is done too soon after the cat's last possible exposure. Beth N. One question I have for the FeLV group - How young do you test for FeLV? I know there is the concern about maternal antibodies triggering a false positive, but if a Negative is really a Negative on the Snap (ELISA) test... shouldn't you be able to test pretty young/small kittens, provided you can draw the blood required? I know there might be a greater chance of a false positive, but taking the into account, you should be able to clear at a pretty young age, maybe 3-4 weeks? That way you could clear the negatives and relax a bit, then be supercareful to keep the + kittens in quarantine as long as necessary to clear or confirm! Any experience or insight would be greatly appreciated. (I am ccing to orphankittens and the feralcats groups for more input.) Thanks and good luck with your cats and kittens, Georgetta (back from today's PETCO adoptions - placed just 2 older kittens in 4 hours - neither were any of the 8 I took to show for adoption... sigh... wish me better luck tomorrow.) www.CatsCradleRescue.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
