Fiv cats virus

It is not known if blood sucking parasites such as fleas can spread infection so it is wise to maintain a regular flea control programme. FIV infects cells of the immune system white blood cells, mainly lymphocytes. The virus may kill or damage the cells it infects, or compromise their normal function. In the first few weeks after infection the virus replicates and may cause mild signs of disease such as a mild fever and swollen lymph nodes. Usually these signs are so mild they go unnoticed.

An immune response will develop which does not eliminate the virus, but keeps viral replication at a relatively low level. After a period of time, in some infected cats viral replication increases again, and it is typically these cats that go on to develop signs of disease. In most cases this will probably be around years after the cat was first infected. Increased replication of the virus leads to progressive damage to the immune system.

The prevalence frequency of FIV infection varies in different cat populations. It tends to be more common where cats live in more crowded conditions and thus where cat fights are more common and tends to be much less common where cat populations are low and where cats are kept mainly indoors.

Infection is much more common in outdoor cats, and is about twice as common in male cats compared with female cats. Although cats of all ages can be infected, it is most commonly middle-aged cats years of age where infection is diagnosed.

FIV usually causes disease through immunosuppression — the normal immune responses of the cat are compromised, leading to an increased susceptibility to other infections and diseases. There are no specific signs associated with FIV, but typically infected cats will develop recurrent bouts of infections or diseases that gradually get worse over time, and infections may not respond to treatment as well as would normally be expected. Other disease may also develop such as neoplasia eg, lymphoma and other infectious agents may be more problematic in FIV infected cats such as toxoplasmosis, haemoplasma infections, feline infectious peritonitis, etc.

Most tests involve collecting a blood sample and detecting the presence of antibodies in the against the virus usually there is not enough virus in the blood itself to be able to readily detect it.

It is important to remember that kittens born to FIV-infected queens will receive antibodies from the queen via the milk, and so will test positive early in life though they may not be infected. Kittens with a positive test result should always be retested when they are months of age. Additionally, in countries where the FIV vaccine is available see below , cats that have been vaccinated will also test positive on the routine antibody tests, so alternatives such as a PCR test are needed.

Many FIV infected cats are able to live happily with the virus for a long period of time, and indeed the virus will not necessarily ever cause clinical disease. In one study, FIV-infected cats were found to survive just under 5 years on average from the time their disease was diagnosed compared with about 6 years for a similar group of non-infected cats. The main aims of managing an FIV-infection are to prevent further spread of infection to other cats and to maintain a good quality of life for the infected cat.

Some antiviral medications used in human patients with HIV infection have also been shown to help some cats with FIV infection. A vaccine against FIV has been licensed and is available in a number of countries. The available data suggests that the vaccine gives a useful degree of protection and that it might therefore be useful in cats at appreciable risk of being exposed to FIV.

The vaccine cannot be expected to give complete protection though, especially as there are multiple different strains of FIV. Also, a vaccinated cat will subsequently test positive on the routinely used antibody tests for FIV infection see above. FIV-infected cats should ideally be separated from other cats, but this can sometimes be difficult in a multicat household. As the risk of transmission by social contact such as sharing food bowls and mutual grooming is low, some owners elect to keep the household as it is.

However, it may be helpful to at least feed cats using separate food bowls, as large amounts of virus are present in saliva. FIV is a retrovirus similar to HIV that is transmitted directly from cat to cat through close contact—usually through bite wounds and scratches.

FIV is most commonly diagnosed in outdoor cats, and once a cat is diagnosed as FIV-positive, they remain infected for life. It seems logical that you would just need to get an FIV vaccine to protect your cat, but the vaccine is no longer used. Why is that? It was generally considered safe, with rare and usually minor side effects. But the vaccine has since been discontinued, and many pet parents want to know why it was taken off the market. FIV is transmitted through saliva; therefore, cats that are in close contact with each other through fighting have the highest risk of getting infected.

The most at-risk cats include outdoor or stray cats, especially intact adult males, who are more likely to roam and fight for territory and food. So even when it was available, not many cats actually received the vaccine. The vaccine contained certain strains of inactivated virus, which offered protection against some but not all FIV infections. In other words, vaccinated cats that were exposed to any of the strains not included in the vaccine were at full risk of getting infected. This was particularly an issue in certain geographic areas, like the United Kingdom, where the vaccine offered little-to-no protection.

In addition to offering limited protection, the vaccine also needed to be readministered on a yearly basis. But the FIV vaccine was an adjuvanted vaccine, which means that it contained additives that stimulate the immune system. This raised concerns of vaccine-site sarcoma , a type of cancer that can develop at the injection site when a vaccine contains adjuvant.

However, cats may live comfortably and enjoy many years of life when their condition is taken care of. The treatment options available to cats with FIV are designed to prolong the asymptomatic period of the virus. Treatment recommendations may include:. Once your cat begins exhibiting symptoms, the priority should be managing them as best as possible.

Not doing so can lead to secondary infections morphing into life-threatening conditions, cancer, kidney failure, or blood diseases. Because FIV in cats is most common in male outdoor cats that tend to fight, the best preventative measure is keeping cats indoors. Indoor cats can avoid contact with felines infected by the virus. If your cat has an adventurous spirit, consider walking them on a leash or keeping them in a confined space outdoors.

Other ways to prevent FIV in cats are spaying or neutering your cats and keeping them away from other FIV-positive cats. Spaying or neutering your cat is especially important if other cats live in the household since this can decrease the chance of fights breaking out due to undefined social structures. So, the only way to truly prevent your cat from developing FIV is by keeping a close eye on them and minimizing exposure to the virus.

This means that the virus will only affect certain species while leaving other species unscathed. In the case of feline immunodeficiency virus, the virus will only spread from cat to cat. Feline immunodeficiency virus in cats is a difficult disease to pinpoint, especially during the early stages when cats may be asymptomatic.

If your cat has FIV and is suffering from conditions that are medically treatable, including skin issues, allergies, or behavioral problems, vet telemedicine for pets can be beneficial. Schedule your online visit today and receive a specialized treatment plan right to your doorstep.

Tizard, Ian.