Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus of domestic cats worldwide. Cats lacking strong FeLV-specific immunity and undergoing progressive infection commonly develop fatal FeLV-associated disease. Many aspects of FeLV infection pathogenesis have been elucidated, some during more recent years using molecular techniques. It is recommended that the FeLV status of every cat is known, since FeLV infection can influence the prognosis and clinical management of every sick cat. Knowledge of a cat’s FeLV status is of epidemiological importance to prevent further spread of the infection. The question is… how often are you testing for this important disease?

Diagnosing FeLV infection remains challenging due to the different outcomes of infection, which can vary over time depending on the balance between the virus and the host’s immune system. Furthermore, testing for FeLV infection has become more refined over the years and now includes diagnostic assays for different viral and immunological parameters. The question is… which test is best and when?

This webinar presents recent knowledge on FeLV pathogenesis, key features to be determined in FeLV infection, and frequently used FeLV detection methods, and their characteristics and interpretation.

Scott Kilpatrick

Director, Internal Medicine Specialist

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Scott graduated from the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School in 2007. He initially worked for the PDSA before taking up a Senior Veterinary Surgeon position with Vets Now in Edinburgh in 2010. In 2012, Scott began his residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, following a year as a Teaching Fellow in Anatomy and Physiology. He completed his residency in 2016 alongside a Master’s degree focused on the pathogenesis of canine liver disease and has since worked exclusively in referral-level clinical practice. Scott is currently based in Canada and undertakes his clinical work at Westcoast Animal Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital on Vancouver Island, where he sees internal medicine referral cases. In addition to his clinical work, Scott has created and delivered a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Emergency Medicine in association with the University of Chester. In 2023, he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) in recognition of his meritorious contribution to clinical practice.