This video is suitable for veterinary professionals.
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) was discovered in 1964 by William Jarrett. In this interview, Professor Oswald Jarrett, the brother of William Jarrett and the world’s leading FeLV expert, talks about how he began an FeLV eradication program in the UK, which led to the prevalence of FeLV falling from around 5% of cats to around 0.5%: which saved literally millions of cats’ lives. FeLV is a devastating infection, destroying the immune system and leaving the cat susceptible to other infections and tumours. The FeLV eradication program began in a collaboration with Abyssinian cat breeders, who were able to eradicate FeLV from their breed by testing their cats and separating FeLV-infected and uninfected cats. One of the unexpected benefits of the program was that their cats became more fertile: FeLV is one of the causes of infertility.
FeLV can only be transmitted directly: i.e. it requires direct contact from one cat to another for the virus to spread. In contrast, feline coronavirus (FCoV), which causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), is mostly spread indirectly, through contaminated cat litter (see an animation of FCoV transmission on • How cats become infect... ). Thus for eradication of FCoV and FIP, not only quarantine, but also rigorous hygiene would be required. Another difference between FCoV and FeLV infections is that most cats develop a healthy immunity to FeLV, but cats who recover from FCoV can be re-infected. FeLV vaccination is advised for cats who have access to outdoors and who could meet and FeLV-infected cat: for example cats in Portugal or Spain where the prevalence of FeLV is relatively high: 5%.
If you are thinking of bringing a new cat into your home, be sure to test him or her for FCoV antibodies and FeLV to prevent infection of your existing cats.
MESSAGE TO ALL CAT BREEDERS - you led the way in eradicating FeLV from purebred cats: we call upon you to do the same with FCoV and FIP.
For information on FCoV and FIP, how to prevent FCoV-infection in kittens, please visit www.catvirus.com. The page for instructions on raising FCoV-free kittens is www.catvirus.com/earlywean.htm: the technique is known as “early weaning and isolation of kittens.” Information is also available in “Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Coronavirus” from Amazon or any good bookseller. Please help keep these videos and the catvirus website advertisement-free by becoming a subscriber to the catvirus website using this link: www.catvirus.com/#subscribe
Many thanks to Professor Jarrett for generously giving this interview, for designing the catvirus logo, and for his enormous contribution to cats and the veterinary profession. I thank MusicStars Productions, Glasgow, UK, for producing this video: www.music-stars.co.uk.
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