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The clinical signs of FIV
FIV-infected cats may show nonspecific signs such as lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), and weight loss. The signs of FIV infection and FeLV infection are very similar.
Chronic oral infections occur in approximately 50% of cats with FIV-related disease.
Respiratory Disease: Approximately 30% of FIV-infected cats have chronic upper respiratory disease with sneezing and nasal discharge.
Eye Disease: Along with signs of upper respiratory disease, cats may also show: redness of the eyes, discharge, and cloudiness of the cornea
Gastrointestinal Disease: Chronic diarrhea is seen in 10-20% of FIV-infected cats.
Skin and Ear Infections: Recurrent or chronic infections of the skin and ears may be the first sign of an FIV infection. Because of the immunodeficiency, parasites, yeast and bacteria overgrow and cause symptoms such as hair loss, itching.
Neurologic Disease: Changes in behavior, loss of house-training, and dementia can be seen in FIV-infected cats.
Lymphadenopathy: Lymph nodes in the abdomen and other parts of the body are often enlarged.
Anemia: Anemia is observed in approximately 1/3 of FIV-infected cats.
Neoplasia: FIV-infected cats are 5 times more likely to develop lyphoma leukemia than uninfected cats. The exact mechanism for this is unknown.
What is feline immunodeficiency virus?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a type of virus called a retrovirus. It is in the same family as feline leukemia virus(FeLV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS). It attacks the immune system and as a result, the cat is unable to fight off various infections and cancers.
Retroviruses are species-specific. This means a feline retrovirus like FIV will only infect cats; a human retrovirus such as HIV will only infect humans.
Retroviruses are made up of RNA. In the virus carried cat.the RNA is transcribed into DNA and incorporated into the DNA of the host’s cells.
Retroviruses are fragile, being easily inactivated by ultraviolet light, heat, detergents, and drying.
How is FIV transmitted?
FIV is NOT transmitted by prolonged close contact, as is the case for FeLV. FIV is shed in the saliva and is transmitted by bite wounds.
FIV transmission in utero or through the mother's milk is very rare. It can occur if the queen is infected during gestation or lactation. Queens infected with FIV prior to the pregnancy usually have noninfected kittens.
How common is FIV?
FIV is found worldwide in domestic cats, and also infects wild felines including snow leopards, lions, tigers, jaguars, Florida panthers, and bobcats. Although the virus was first isolated in 1987, we know the virus has existed for many years. It is most common in outdoor, free-roaming cats. In the United States, 1-8 percent of apparently healthy cats are infected with FIV.
Male cats are twice as likely to become infected with FIV as female cats. Free-roaming cats are also more likely to be infected since they too are more susceptible to bite wounds. Unlike FeLV, FIV infection is rare in catteries since few bite wounds would be expected in a cattery situation.
How is FIV infection treated?
Although FIV-positive cats can live for many years, your veterinarian needs to know if your cat is FIV-infected to provide the best care, e.g., proper vaccinations and aggressive treatment of infections. Stress and exposure to ill animals should be avoided. FIV-positive cats should be kept indoors both to protect them from exposure to disease and also to prevent them from spreading FIV to other cats.
There are many antiviral medications for people with HIV infection, but currently there are none which are routinely and effectively used in FIV-infected cats. Some drugs that directly affect the immune system have been used with variable but encouraging results.
Cats with FIV-related disease will need to be treated according to the signs of disease they are showing. Infections which occur as a result of the immunodeficiency should be treated aggressively.
How is FIV infection prevented and controlled?
Testing and identifying positive cats is the only means by which FIV infection can be controlled. Although FIV is less transmissible than FeLV, any FIV-positive cat should be separated from non-infected cats. Cats in the terminal stages of the disease can shed large amounts of the virus in their saliva and can pose a greater threat to uninfected cats.
Since cats who roam are more likely to sustain cat bites, cats should be kept inside, or supervised when outside and not be allowed to roam.
A vaccine against FIV, produced by Fort Dodge, was approved for use in Spring 2002. It does not provide 100% protection, and vaccinated cats will test positive on the antibody test. The American Association of Feline Practitioners does not currently recommend use of the vaccine.
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