Feline Immunodeficiency Disease FAQs
Feline Immunodeficiency Disease: What is it?
Feline Immunodeficiency Disease is a worldwide disease that invades the immune system of cats, serving to weaken the immune system and hinder normal immune system response capabilities that ordinarily protect and defend against infections upon confrontation of pathogens. There are two types of Feline Immunodeficiency Disease including:
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
The signs and symptoms for both FIV and FeLV are very similar. The disease has the ability to remain dormant for a period of incubation, unnoticeable as symptoms do not occur upon infection immediately. The virus is responsible for suppression of the immune system, and it is common for symptoms to be produced from different opportunistic infections as the normal immune response is impeded.
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Unexplained behavioral changes
- Diarrhea
- Persistent fever
- Consistent infection of systems: skin, respiratory, urinary
- Eye infections
- Mouth and gum inflammation
- Reproductive complications
- Neurological disorders
- Seizures
- Enlarged lymph nodes
What are the Risk Factors for Feline Immunodeficiency Disease?
There are several known risk factors that enhance a cat’s rate of infection for the disease including:
- Age: Older cats are more likely to become infected.
- Gender: Male cats have a higher infection rate than female cats.
- Disease: Cats with suppressed immune systems are more susceptible to infection.
- Location: Cats that live primarily out of doors have a prominently higher infection rate than indoor cats.
How is Feline Immunodeficiency Disease Transmitted?
Transmittance of Feline Immuno deficency Virus most commonly associated with saliva contact; typically bite wounds are the cause of infection. It is also possible for FIV to be transmitted in-utero from mother to kittens. Feline Leukemia Virus is highly contagious and transmittance is possible through close contact. Both viruses are associated with a weakening of the immune system, increasing overall susceptibility of the infected cat to other pathogens.
Is Feline Immunodeficiency Disease Contagious to Humans?
Feline Immunodeficiency Disease, both FIV and FeLV are species specific viruses capable of infecting felines only. Feline Immunodeficiency Disease is not contagious to humans. However, humans are infected by a similar virus: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
How does the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infect?
Feline immunodeficiency Disease is caused by a retrovirus, made of RNA (ribonucleic acid). Upon infection of the host, the RNA is incorporated into the feline DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
How is the Feline Immunodeficiency Disease Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of Feline Immunodeficiency Disease is accomplished by use of diagnostic antibody testing on the blood. Feline Leukemia Virus is achieved by use of diagnostic antigen testing on the blood by a veterinarian. The disease is not detectable upon immediate infection, but must develop between 8-12 weeks before detection is possible. Often, results obtained through ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) are confirmed by western blotting of protein aggregates.
Is Feline Immunodeficiency Disease Preventable?
Feline Immunodeficiency Disease is preventable. The first step of prevention is to stop exposure from other cats that are potentially infected. Vaccinations are available against the disease, but are not always 100% effective against infection.
My Cat has Feline Immunodeficiency Disease: Is it Treatable?
Treatments are available for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus infections, but there is no known cure for the disease. It is important to manage your cat’s disease and isolate your FIV-positive cat from other animals to ensure the disease is not spread. Accurate prediction of life span is not possible, but most infected cats can be expected to live months or years depending on specific conditions and quality of care. There do exist specific treatments that can enhance life span including:
- Antiviral medications
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Proper care: Fluid intake and nutrition
- Antibiotics: For prevention of opportunistic secondary infections
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1316&articleid=213
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html
http://www.cats.org.uk/catcare/leaflets/655_fiv.pdf