[Clinical aspects of infection with feline leukemia virus in cats]

Abstract

The leukemia-sarcoma complex constitutes the most common group of malignancies in the cat. Epizootiology of FeLV infections and pathogenesis, which can be divided into three stages, are described. Diagnosis can be made by immunofluorescent, ELISA and virus isolation techniques, as well as FOCMA-antibody tests. Symptomatology of FeLV related illnesses is presented. Feline lymphoma can be categorized into four anatomic types: thymic, alimentary and multicentric type and true leukemia. Forms, which do not fit this classification, are classified as miscellaneous. Treatment of these forms and prevention and control of FeLV infections are discussed.