Page 551 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

24 – THE ANEMIC CAT 543

● Aqueous flare, mass lesions, keratic precipitates, Laboratory abnormalities.
lens luxations and glaucoma are often found on ● Anemia is common; non-regenerative anemia
ocular examination. occurs alone or in combination with decreases in
● If anterior uveitis is present, the abnormality is usu- lymphocytes, neutrophils and platelets.
ally because of co-infection with FIP, T. gondii, C. ● Evidence of abnormal red blood cell release from
neoformans or FIV. the bone marrow characterized by increased num-
bers of circulating nucleated red blood cells with-
Reproductive abnormalities.
out an appropriate reticulocytosis is common.
● FeLV-infected queens may be presented for abor-
● Examination of bone marrow often documents a
tion, stillbirth or infertility.
maturation arrest in the erythroid line.
● Kittens that are infected in utero but survive to par-
● Regenerative anemia is detected in some cats with
turition generally develop accelerated FeLV syn-
immune-mediated destruction of erythrocytes
dromes or die as a part of the kitten mortality
induced by FeLV or in some cats co-infected with
complex.
M. haemofelis.
Neurologic abnormalities. ● Microagglutination of erythrocytes or positive
● Nervous system disease is likely to develop due to direct Coomb’s testing occurs in some cats.
polyneuropathy or lymphoma. ● Neutropenia occurs in some due to bone marrow
● Neurologic abnormalities are occasionally second- suppression or immune-mediated destruction.
ary to other infectious agents like FIP or T. gondii. ● Renal azotemia occurs in cats with renal lym-
● Anisocoria, ataxia, weakness, behavioral change phoma.
and urinary incontinence are the most common ● Hyperbilirubinemia occurs due to pre-hepatic
neurologic signs. hemolytic anemia or hepatic disease associated
● Neurologic examination commonly reveals tetra- with lymphosarcoma.
paresis or paraparesis and decreased conscious ● Increased activities of liver enzymes develop second-
proprioception. ary to hepatic lipidosis or hepatic lymphosarcoma.
● Leukemic cells were detected in the bone marrow ● Proteinuria occurs in some FeLV-infected cats sec-
of 69% of a group of cats with spinal lymphoma. ondary to glomerulonephritis.
● Malignant lymphocytes characteristic of FeLV-
Secondary infections.
induced lymphosarcoma are easily identified cyto-
● Concurrent infections by viral, bacterial, fungal,
logically, and occasionally are identified in
rickettsial and parasitic agents are commonly
peripheral blood smears and in cerebrospinal fluid.
detected in FeLV seropositive cats; it is difficult
● Leukemias can be detected in peripheral blood
clinically to determine which are primary and
smears and on bone marrow aspirates.
which are secondary to FeLV-induced immunosup-
pression.
● A strong association exists between FeLV and Diagnosis
infections with feline infectious peritonitis virus
Detection of FeLV antigens in neutrophils and
and hemotropic mycoplasmas (previously Haemo-
platelets by IFA or in whole blood, plasma, serum,
bartonella felis).
saliva or tears by ELISA are most commonly used
● Secondary infections may be more difficult to treat
clinically to document infection by FeLV.
in FeLV-infected cats that are immunosuppressed.
Antibody titers to FeLV envelope antigens (neutralizing
Musculoskeletal abnormalities.
antibody) and against virus-transformed tumor cells
● Multiple cartilaginous exostosis occur in some
(FOCMA antibody) are available in some research lab-
cats.
oratories but clinical use is limited due to poor prog-
● Polyarthritis with resultant stiffness and lame-
nostic value.
ness with or without swollen, hot and painful joints
occurs in some cats and has been attributed to Results of IFA and ELISA testing during the dissemi-
immune complex deposition. nation of FeLV are listed under Pathogenesis.