However, it is possible for the virus to reactivate and start replicating again, especially if the cat becomes immunosuppressed through illness or medications. When this happens, the cat is again infectious to other cats and at risk of developing clinical illness.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious causes of disease of cats globally. Infection with FeLV can cause a variety of clinical signs, impacting a cat's longevity and quality of life. Vaccination and identification of infected cats is important in preventing disease transmission. Etiology and Pathogenesis |
Evolution of these variants is important in the pathogenesis of FeLV as they may lead to acute disease onset. FeLV oncogenesis involves insertional mutagenesis and recombination between FeLV and host proto-oncogenes leading to the formation of feline sarcoma viruses or lymphoma-inducing variants.
FeLV infection usually starts in the mucosa of the oropharynx.
The phenotype of this virus was also novel compared to other FeLVs, including both the parental virus 61E and the immunodeficiency-inducing variant 61C, because infection of T cells was associated with syncytium formation.
