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engineered. Vaccines are indicated only for uninfected While testing of cats in an animal shelter environment
VetBooks.ir cats, because there is no benefit in vaccinating an FeLV‐ is considered optional for individual housing, FeLV
status should be determined before placement in group
positive cat. Vaccination is the most effective way to pre-
vent FeLV‐associated disease. Currently, FeLV vaccines
foster home placement. Because tests are not 100% accu-
are very safe and have up to 98% efficacy. The American housing and is recommended at the time of adoption or
Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Feline rate, shelter cats placed in group housing should be vac-
Retrovirus Management Guidelines include the recom- cinated against FeLV, especially in long‐term conditions
mendation that all kittens should receive the two‐dose such as sanctuaries. Because of the equivalent prevalence
FeLV vaccination as a component of the routine initial of FeLV among feral and free‐roaming pet cats and the
vaccination series and should also receive a booster vac- role of neutering in decreasing the spread of infection,
cination one year later. This is prudent, because rehom- expending resources on FeLV testing is not considered a
ing and lifestyle changes such as outdoor access frequently mandatory component of community trap‐neuter‐
occur as cats mature. Annual revaccination after matu- return programs.
rity would depend on the cat’s risk of FeLV exposure. The
adult cat’s risk of exposure to FeLV‐positive cats should
be assessed, and vaccines used only for those cats at risk. Public Health Implications
FeLV vaccines have been associated with development of
sarcomas at the vaccination site, although the risk of Some strains of FeLV can be experimentally grown in
tumor development is very low. Uninfected cats in a human tissue cultures, leading to concerns of potential
household with infected cats should be vaccinated; how- for transmission to people. Studies addressing this con-
ever, vaccination is not universally protective, and other cern have shown no evidence that any zoonotic risk
means of reducing transmission to uninfected cats, such exists, and there are no known cases of zoonotic
as physical separation, should also be used. transmission.

Further Reading

Hartmann K. Clinical aspects of feline retroviruses: a Nesina S, Helfer‐Hungerbuehler K, Riond A, et al.
review. Viruses 2012; 4(11): 2684–710. Retroviral DNA – the silent winner: blood transfusion
Levy J, Crawford C, Hartmann K. American Association of containing latent feline leukemia provirus causes
Feline Practitioners feline retrovirus management infection and disease in naïve recipient cats.
guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2008; 10: 300–16. Retrovirology 2015; 12(1): 105.
Levy JK, Crawford PC, Tucker SJ. Performance of 4 Westman ME, Malik R, Hall E, et al. Comparison of three
point‐of‐care screening tests for feline leukemia virus feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) point‐of‐care antigen test
and feline immunodeficiency virus. J Vet Intern Med kits using blood and saliva. Comp Immunol Microbiol
2017; 31: 521–6. Infect Dis 2017; 50: 88–96.