feline leukemia virus :: essays research papers fc

FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA VIRUScomputer virus Classifi roveionOrderMononegaviralesFamilyParvoviridaeSubfamilyParvovirinaeGenusParvovirusSpeciesFeline panleukopenia virusAlso called feline infectious eneritis, feline distemper, and feline ataxia or incoordination. Examples of other viruses belonging to the same genus as Feline panleukopenia virus include dogs-tooth violet parvovirus type 2, Porcine parvovirus, Mink tuckitis virus, and Raccoon enteritis virus.Virus grammatical constructionFeline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a small (20 nm) autonomous , non enveloped, icosahedral, single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid virus that is approximately 5,120 nucleotides in legnth. The genome encodes for twain genes which each form two proteins by alternative mRNA splicing. The non-enveloped capsid is assembled from 60 copies of a compounding of the overlapping capsid proteins VP1 and VP2. The virus contains three capsid proteins. The capsids normally enter cells by clathrin-mediated endocy tosis. Repli pukeion of the virus in the host occurs in cells that argon chop-chop dividing. FPV can survive in pH ranging from 3 to 9. The virus is highly resistant to virtually disinfectants (ether, chloroform, acid, alcohol, and heat), but is susceptible to Clorox bleach.History and subjective Biology of Feline Panleukopenia VirusFeline panleukopenia is endemic to cats worldwide. The virus has been determine since the early 20th century. The virus is so severe that it was referred to as cat plague in earlier times when infections worldwide nearly wiped pop cat populations in certain geographic aras. Now FPV r bely occurs in domestic populations in which vaccination is routinely practiced. There is a seasonality to the feature of FPV that usually coincides with the production of new populations of susceptible kittens. This seasonal effect may vary according to geographic location. In the northeastern United States, most cases of FPV are seen in the summer and early fall. H owever, outbreaks of FPV may occur at any time of the year. It is thought that feral domestic cat populations are a natural resevior for Feline panleukopenia virus.Clinical Features and Viral PathogenesisAll 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.