A STUDY ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FELV INFECTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT LESIONS IN NECROPSIED CATS

Persistent FeLV infection was demonstrated in more than 3000 necropsie d cats by an immunohistological method. The findings were associated w ith the diagnoses established by means of post-mortem examination, his topathological, bacteriological, virological, and parasitological inve stigations. Statistically significant differences between FeLV-positiv e and FeLV-negative cats in the relative risk for certain lesions coul d be demonstrated for the first time. As a consequence, the importance of FeLV infection for the development of certain lesions in cats is t o be seen under new aspects for some diagnoses. The relative risk for development of anemia, e.g., is only slightly increased in FeLV-positi ve animals whereas the relative risk for focal myocardial necrosis and coccidiosis is elevated tremendously in these cats. The relative risk for some lesions and diagnoses is much higher in FeLV-negative cats t han in FeLV-positive animals, This is true, e.g., for myocardiopathy a nd hemorrhagic cystitis.