Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus that infects cats. FeLV can be transmitted from infected cats when the transfer of saliva or nasal secretions is involved.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) affects the cats immune system much the same way HIV affects humans. Therefore, it is often called feline AIDS. The disease causes the cats immune system to weaken, making it more vulnerable to other infections.
Seroprevalences of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection in cats in the United States and Canada and risk factors for seropositivity. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2017; 251: 187194.
This particular example perfectly highlights why Chronic Feline Leukemia And Feline Immunodeficiency Stages is so captivating.
Abstract. Preexistent feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection greatly potentiated the severity of the transient primary and chronic secondary stages of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection.
Feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus are retrovirus, but they differ in their potential to cause disease. FIV is classified as a Lentivirus and, FeLV as a Gamaretrovirus. The high incidence of FIV and FeLV is associated with density of cat population.
... Two other feline retroviruses, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), can be associated with various clinical presentations, including immunodeficiency, depending on the disease course and stage [43].
Feline leukemia virus infection. In: Feline Husbandry. Disease and management in the multiple-cat environments. American Veterinary Publications, Inc., Goleta, CA, USA, 1991, pp210-228.
