Transmission

FeLV Transmission Principles

Courtesy of IDEXX. Copyright © 2020, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Reference: Hartmann, K., Clinical Aspects of Feline Retroviruses: A Review, Viruses 2012 Oct., 4, 2684-271

• Infected cats may begin to shed virus within 30 days of exposure
• Shed in saliva
• Less commonly shed in nasal secretions, milk, urine, or feces
• Transmitted mainly via oral nasal route and less commonly via bite wounds
• Spread horizontally among cats that live together or fight
• Spread vertically and horizontally from infected queens to their kittens
• Kittens more susceptible to becoming progressively infected than adult cats

 FIV Transmission Principles

Courtesy of IDEXX. Copyright © 2018, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Reference: Hosie MJ, Addie D, Belák S, Boucraut-Baralon C, Egberink H, Frymus T, Gruffydd-Jones T, Hartmann K, Lloret A, Lutz H, Marsilio F, Pennisi MG, Radford AD, Thiry E, Truyen U, Horzinek MC. Feline immunodeficiency. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg. 2009 Jul;11(7):575-84.

• Infected cats may begin to shed virus within 14 days of exposure
• Shed in saliva
• Spread horizontally via bite wounds and FIV-infected white blood cells
• Transmission from queens to kittens is uncommon in natural infection
• Transmission between cohabitating cats is uncommon without fighting
• Sexual transmission is uncommon

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