Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) belongs to the Gammaretrovirus genus, Retroviridae family and infects domestic cats and other felids across the world.1,6,17 The single-stranded RNA genome of FeLV has three genes, which are common to all retroviruses: gag, env and pol, which encode for the viral core and nucleocapsid proteins, surface proteins and viral replication enzymes, respectively. 8,13,17
FeLV is divided into four subgroups (A, B, C and T) based on the envelope surface glycoproteins.15 FeLV-A is the most abundant subtype and is found in all natural infections conferred via saliva, but is not considered highly pathogenic.15,17 FeLV-B is found in approximately 50% of infected cats in conjunction with FeLV-A and is commonly associated with
…show more content…
Most of these diseases are due to insertional mutagenesis, which is when a provirus is integrated in the vicinity of a proto-oncogene such that the expression of proteins involved in the control of the cell cycle is deregulated. This results in activation and over expression of that gene, which in turn leads to uncontrolled proliferation of that cell. Lymphoma, which is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies of cats, has been associated with FeLV since the late 1960’s.1,10,17,18 Previously, up to 80% of feline lymphomas and leukemias were reported to be FeLV related.4,16 Lymphomas are classified by their preferred anatomic location: thymic or mediastinal, alimentary, multicentric or peripheral, and atypical or extra nodal. Thymic and multicentic T-cell lymphomas are the most common forms seen in FeLV antigen-positive cats.13 Likely due to a decreased FeLV infection rate, attributable to widespread vaccination, test-elimination programs and housing practices, thymic and multicentic lymphoma have become less common in cats.7,13,10 Currently, the majority of feline lymphomas are alimentary and seen in older cats that are FeLV-antigen
C. difficile is highly contagious and is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. 2 It also known to develop right afte...
In 1994, a stable in Hendra, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia broke out with an unknown respiratory disease that resulted in thirteen horses and one horse trainer severely ill, resulting in death. [7, 8] This disease was isolated by scientists and later classified as the Hendra virus. The Hendra virus (HeV), previously unknown, is now classified under the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus along with its sister viruses the Nipah Virus and Cedar virus.[7, 9] HeV has the capability of causing fatal diseases in several animal species including humans.[1] The primary host of the Hendra virus was identified as the flying fox species from the genus Pteropus[1,2,3] that resides and migrates through Northeastern Australia[8] or more specifically, the East coast of Australia to Melbourne and west across Northern Australia to Darwin[7].
Del Puerto, H. L., Martins, A., Vasconcelos, A. C., Milsted, A., Souza-Fagundes, E. M., Braz, G. F., et al. (n.d.). Canine distemper virus induces apoptosis in cervical tumor derived cell lines. http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/334. Retrieved January 29, 2014, from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c0b3ec67-82b8-411a-a30b-
F tularensis as a bacterium has a large array of sources from which it can be transmitted. As mentioned these include water, mud and decaying animal carcasses(Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, 2013). Additional sources include small mammals such as; rabbits, hares, muskrats and other such creatures(##). Small mammals such as
Herpesviruses are not only been present in humans, they are most often found in commonly studied animals which implicatively insinuates the amount of ...
In some individuals with severe hemophilia, the factor VIII replacement therapy is identified as a foreign substance by their immune system. If this happens, their immune system will make antibodies against factor VIII. These antibodies will inhibit the ability of the factor to work in the clotting process. The higher the antibody or inhibitor level, the more factor VIII replacement therapy it takes to overcome the inhibition and produce clotting. This can complicate the treatment of a bleed. The good news is that there are different types of therapies available to successfully treat most individuals who develop inhibitors.
All members of the cat family (Felidae) are susceptible to infection with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), as are raccoons, and minks, in the family Procyoniclae. Three major body sytems are affected by FPV. FPV specifically depresses the white blood cells and thus the immune system of the host, it attacks the rapidly reproducing cells lining the gut, and FPV affects the reproducing cells of the cerebellum and the retina of the eye when they are in their developing stage. The system it chooses depends on the age of the cat at the time of infection.
Tilley, Lawrence P., and Francis Jr. W. K. Smith. The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline. Third ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004. 372-73. Print.
3. In the same month in which Gallo's and Essex's groups reported their data, Luc Montagnier and his colleagues from the Pasteur Institute, described the isolation of a retrovirus, later known as Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV), from the lymph nodes of a homosexual patient with lymphadenopathy.(5) Although this virus was similar to HTLV-I, one of its proteins, a protein with a molecular weight of 24,000 (p24), did not react with monoclonal antibodies to the HTLV-I p24 protein. Samples of this virus were, on several occasions, sent to Gallo's laboratory.
The virus is primarily spherical shaped and roughly 200nm in size, surrounded by a host-cell derived membrane. Its genome is minus-sense single-stranded RNA 16-18 kb in length. It contains matrix protein inside the envelope, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, fusion protein, nucleocapsid protein, and L and P proteins to form the RNA polymerase. The host-cell receptors on the outside are hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The virus is allowed to enter the cell when the hemagglutinin/ neuraminidase glycoproteins fuse with the sialic acid on the surface of the host cell, and the capsid enters the cytoplasm. The infected cells express the fusion protein from the virus, and this links the host cells together to create syncitia.
Cats infected with the Feline Leukemia Virus are found worldwide, although the rates vary depending on age group and the general lifestyle of the cats. The virus is transmitted in a number of ways. It is commonly spread through body fluids, such as blood or saliva, or other bodily excrements. An infected cat eating or drinking with an uninfected cat could cause transmission, as well as an infected cat sharing a litter box with an uninfected cat. It can also be spread through grooming. Another common means of infection is a bite, especially in cats living primarily outside. The virus can also be spread in utero or through a kitten’s consumption of milk if the mother is infected. Feline Leukemia Virus is more common in kittens and young cats than in any other age group. A healthy cat that is in adulthood stand a much smaller chance of contracting the virus, especially if the cat has already been vaccination against ...
however, inoculations of mice with the patient's serum resulted in the isolation of a virus
For approximately three-thousand years, smallpox has ravaged and plagued the four corners of the globe. In fact, in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, it was claimed to be the most infectious disease in the West, with an astounding 90% mortality rate in America. It wasn't until 1796, with English surgeon Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccination, that the world saw relief from this devastating virus. However, even with this inoculation in use, the world continued to witness death from both the virus and the vaccine. In the year 1966, it was estimated that 10-15 million infected citizens world wide had passed away from smallpox that year alone ( “History” 12). As a result of these devastating numbers, in the following year, 1967, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) created a program to eradicate the smallpox virus. Ten years later, in 1977, the estimated 10-15 million cases had dwindled down to one; a man in Somalia. Three years later, W.H.O. officially announced that smallpox had been eradicated, leaving the only remaining virus cultures stored and guarded in laboratories in Russia and the United States. Inoculations ceased, smallpox epidemics were non-existent, and the virus was no longer a concern. In order to ensure complete eradication of this deadly virus, the W.H.O. insisted that the remaining smallpox cultures be destroyed by 1999 ( “Smallpox Eradication” 2). However, despite the W.H.O.'s recommendation, the remaining cultures continue to be contained and protected to this day, five years after the suggested date of elimination.
Having completed an inspiring five-year course in veterinary sciences,1993-1999 from college of veterinary and animal sciences ,and completing DVM, I would like to continue my pursuit of knowledge and do a dissertation in Virology. This would give me build the strong knowledge base that I desire and a strong expertise in field that I wish to specialize. The past few decades have witnessed rapid advance in the area of virology and molecular biology. The objective of virology is to make life meaningful and to alleviate human and animal ailments caused by these dreadful pathogens . I am keen to be an integral part of this effort. For this, along with an in-depth knowledge of the subject, experience in cutting edge research and hands on experience in real time applications would be of prime importance . In today’s world, microbial sciences has attained such high status due its impact in the day to day life of humanity as a whole..
Many people don’t spay or neuter their pets, especially cats. There are a lot of benefits and yet according to The Humane Society of the United States, six to eight million cats enter the shelters each year and while three to four million are adopted out, another three to four million are killed. “An unsprayed female cats, her mate and all of their offspring producing just 2 litters per year (the average is 3-4), with just 2.8 surviving kittens per litter can total to 66,088 cats in just 6 years” (Goldstein & O’Keefe 4).