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From: jla@inuxd.UUCP (Joyce Andrews)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Feline Leukemia Vaccine
Message-ID: <705@inuxd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Feb-85 07:56:36 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxd.705
Posted: Thu Feb 14 07:56:36 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Feb-85 05:21:17 EST
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products Div., Indianapolis
Lines: 46

Some more information on Feline Leukemia, with a very interesting
aside appeared in the Sunday Indianapolis Star with a
Scrips-Howard byline.  I repeat part of it, without permission,
like they do in net.jokes.

"The vaccine, called Leukocell, was discovered by Dr. Richard
Olson, a researcher in the pathobiology department at Ohio
State's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"His work is considered a major breakthrough in cancer-related
viruses and, according to a Norden spokesman, is the only known
vaccine for any type of cancer that afflicts animals or humans.

"'We first started on the project over a decade ago.' Olson said.
'We developed the vaccine in the late '70's and the Norden folks,
themselves, have been getting ready for USDA approval and
production for four years.'

"Norden's testing showed the vaccine to be 80 percent effective
in cats that had been vaccinated and then infected with the
virus.  'That was a tough challenge test,' said Olson.  'I
believe that probably, in a household situation, it will be 100
percent effective.'

"Although feline leukemia virus, which is highly contagious, is
not known to be transmittable to humans, Olson's work could lead
to similar breakthroughs in human T-cell cancer research.  'I
think this is one of the major interests of the National Cancer
Institute,' Olson said.

"'As far as I'm concerned, it's a miracle,' said Dr. Thomas
Dickerson, a veterinarian, who has been involved in field-testing
the vaccine.  'In my practice alone, I see three or four cases of
feline leukemia a month.  Cat owners should understand that
Leukocell cannot cure feline leukemia, it can only prevent it.
If the virus is already present, the vaccine is of no value.'

"Feline leukemia virus weakens a cat's immune systems in somewhat
the same way as AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) does 
the human immune system, reducing its ability to fight
infection."   ....

The rest of the article stated facts that have already been
mentioned in this newsgroup.  So--has the veterinary world
achieved the first real breakthrough in cancer prevention?