FeLv questions- please help!

[geekgirl]

I have a 16 year old cat, Milo, who has been sick with some strange symptoms for the past few months. The vet believes that all signs point to lymphoma, and right now he is doing fine. We are planning on just making him comfortable until it is time for him to go. But, this past week he has been sneezing, so we took him in to the vet. He is on steroids so hi immune system is low, and they think he has an infection and they are running tests.

Okay- we have 7 cats total. Last year we adopted a 9 year old Abyssinian, Angie, from a foster home (through a local shelter). All their cats are tested for FeLv and she tested negative in her records. She has always been an overweight cat (a 15 pound Aby!) and has had some sores- but we believed this was due to the ringworm she brought in to the house last year. Other than the fact she hasn't lost much weight (and she is on a diet) she is healthy.

Well- as a possibility our vet mentioned FeLv as one of the possibilities. And Milo has had various symptoms that correspond with FeLv but we at the time attributed those to his diabetes, lymphoma and IBD. BUT we just found out that the woman who fosters Angie has FeLv cats. She said she had them when she had Angie, but that they were separate. We immediately notified the organization that she fosters for- to check out the situation.

So, here we are, having lost 3 cats this year (1 from Kidney failure and 2 from heart conditions) and we have a wonderful furry family that we love (and a new kitten!) and we are PANICKING that all of them could have FeLu. We are taking the Aby in tomorrow to be tested so we will know then.

Is this a real possibility that all my cats have FeLv and could die?? I just can't even imagine that just from adopting my wonderful Aby that this could happen. And what would be do if they did have FeLv it would be like a death sentence for our whole family!!

[Candycane]

Oh no. I really hope that Angie is negative. However, false negatives are quite possible with FeLV. We recently had a scare with my female...so I have read a bit on FeLV. Which test did they do at the shelter? Here is some info I found when I was looking.

The "leukemia test" is used to determine if a cat harbors the virus. Any of three different tests may be used to detect one particular virus protein in the cat. Some tests detect earlier stages of infection, whereas others are used to detect later (i.e., irreversible) stages of infection.

1. The blood ELISA test is performed on a blood sample and detects the FeLV at any stage of infection. This test turns positive within a few days of infection and, in some cases, may later turn negative if the cats immune system eliminates the infection.

2. The IFA test turns positive only after the FeLV infection has progressed to a late stage of infection. Once positive, the IFA test usually means that the cat has a permanent infection. A cat who tests IFA positive is only rarely able to successfully eliminate the virus.

3. The tears/saliva ELISA test is performed on a sample of tears or saliva. It turns positive only in a late stage of infection; therefore, it may yield a false negative result in cats who are in the early stage of FeLV infection. It also has been associated with some false positive results due to inherent errors in the way the test is performed. Because of these problems, the tears and saliva tests are not used routinely.

From: http://www.animalclinic.com/FELVEASY.htm

Let us know how it goes at the vet's tomorrow.

[Traci]

The only way to effectively diagnose is through testing each cat with the specific ELISA and/or IFA through a serology sent to an outside lab. Snap tests in the clinic are fairly accurate, but when exposure is known, it is best to test with the FELV ELISA-specific.

As for Milo, what exactly have his symptoms been? What tests are being run, and where does your vet suspect the lymphoma? (blood or organ, i.e., intestinal, etc), and were x-rays done to monitor the chest cavity for any signs of progressive malignancy?

Also, FELV is not necessarily a death sentence. Many cats can lead long normal lives if proper vet care is instituted from the beginning and the owner is compliant with frequent followups to monitor bloodwork, secondary infections, etc. Your vet needs to discuss these issues with you.