| evidence of horizontal transmission of feline leukemia virus by the cat flea ( ctenocephalides felis). | the feline leukemia virus (felv) is a naturally occurring and widespread retrovirus among domestic cats. the virus is mainly transmitted horizontally through saliva, blood and other body fluids by close contact between cats. vectors other than cats, e.g. blood-sucking parasites, have not been reported. this study tested the vector potential of the cat flea ( ctenocephalides felis) for felv. in a first feeding, fleas were fed for 24 h with blood from a felv-infected cat with persistent viremia. f ... | 2003 | 14557874 |