Fiv

Suggested Articles Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats, affecting between 2 and 3% of all cats in the United States. Infection rates are significantly higher (up to 30%) in cats that are ill or otherwise at high risk (see below). Fortunately, the prevalence of FeLV in cats has decreased significantly in the past 25 years since the development of an effective vaccine and accurate testing procedures. Cats persistently infected with FeLV serve as sources of infection for other cats. The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur from a Cats at greatest risk of FeLV infection are those that may be exposed to infected cats, either via prolonged close contact or through bite wounds. Such cats include cats living with infected cats or with cats of unknown infection status, cats allowed outdoors unsupervised where they may be bitten by an infected cat, and kittens born to infected mothers. Kittens are much more susceptible to FeLV infection than are adult cats, and therefore are at the greatest risk of infection if exposed. However, even healthy adult cats can become infected if sufficiently exposed. Clinical Signs FeLV adversely affects a cat's body in many ways. It is the most common cause of During the early stages of infection, it is common for cats to exhibit no signs of disease at all. Over time, however, (weeks, months, or even years) an infecte...

Communication between owner and vet is vital Two acronyms that can be confusing to cat owners are FeLV and FIV. FeLV stands for feline leukemia virus, and FIV is feline immunodeficiency virus. Although caused by distinct viruses, these diseases have similarities: both are contagious and incurable; both are more likely to be acquired by a cat that is allowed outside. Neither virus can be passed to people or species other than cats. Dr. Jennifer Reinhart, a veterinarian who is board certified in small animal internal medicine, has treated many patients with these viruses at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. She wants owners to know that their infected cats can live normal lives. FeLV FeLV is caused by a retrovirus that becomes part of the animal’s DNA. This virus is transmitted when cats are in close contact with each other. FeLV breaks down a cat’s immune system, leading to symptoms that include pale gums, yellow color of the mouth and whites of the eyes, weight loss, and poor coat condition. “What can be tricky about FeLV is that the disease can vary greatly between cats,” Dr. Reinhart explains. “It may become dormant and not cause outward health issues in one cat, but may cause illness and even cancer in another.” Additionally, even if an infected cat does not have outward clinical signs, it still able to pass the virus to other cats. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for FeLV. “We still have hope for some antivirals that are currently use...

Chloe catches some moments in the sun. Read her story in the sidebar. (Photos by Mindy Valcarcel)Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can be a scary diagnosis for cat owners, especially if they associate it with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS. So what you do you do if a cat becomes infected or the owners want to adopt a cat that is already infected? We asked feline practitioner Kelly St. Denis, MS, DVM, DABVP (feline), owner of Charing Cross Cat Clinic in Brantford, Ontario. Chloe doesn't let her deadly disease keep her in the shadows. The case of Chloe, the immunocompromised kitty Chloe was adopted by her owners at about 6 months of age after she had started hanging around their house. She joined another cat and a dog in the household was allowed to be an indoor-outdoor cat. About six months later, she came home with a large cat bite wound and was found to have become infected with FIV. The veterinarian warned Chloe's owners that she could pass the infection on to the other cat in the household. In addition, he warned that she would always be at risk for serious disease because of her immunocompromised state and that she could never be an outside cat again because of the risk of her passing on the infection to other cats. Chloe's owners agreed to her new indoor-only status and took the chance of their other cat becoming infected. The veterinarian also started Chloe on interferon. Fast forward 11 years, and Chloe is doing well. Her owners have continued the...

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Suggested Articles Vaccines are preparations that resemble infectious agents like bacteria or viruses but are not pathogenic (disease causing). When administered to an animal, they train the immune system to protect against these infectious agents. HOW VACCINES WORK After vaccination, the immune system is “trained” to recognize infectious agents by producing proteins called antibodies or activating specific cells to kill the agents. When a vaccinated cat encounters these agents in the future, it rapidly generates antibodies and activates the cells that recognize the agents, producing an “immune response” that results in the elimination of the invading agent. While vaccines represent one of the greatest achievements in preventive medicine, no vaccine is 100 percent effective; and they don’t induce the same degree of protection in every cat. For this reason, exposure of even vaccinated cats to other cats or environments in which infectious agents may be found should still be minimized. Vaccinating Kittens Kittens are susceptible to a variety of infections due to their immature immune systems. Vaccination at the appropriate time and minimizing exposure to infectious agents are thus very important, particularly in kittens for which the history of adequate nursing from the mother is unknown. Kittens receive a series of vaccines over a 12 to 16-week period beginning at between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Earlier vaccinations are not effective because kittens ingest beneficial protecti...

Of all infectious diseases in cats, few are as feared as FeLV and FIV—and with good reason. Between 2-4% of feline population in the U.S. harbors one or both of these potentially fatal viruses. Many clinics use an in-house test that checks for both viruses at the same time, and most wellness conversations about infectious disease covers both topics, so it’s easy to see why owners might confuse the two. But while they are similar, there are some important differences in both transmission and how the virus works in the body. What Are FeLV and FIV? Both How Do Cats Get FeLV and FIV? Both FeLV and FIV can be transmitted through bite wounds. In the case of FIV, saliva from an infected cat is the primary mode of transmission. The FeLV virus is shed through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk; it may be transmitted through mutual grooming, from queen (mother) to kitten, bite wounds, or rarely, through shared litterboxes and feeding dishes. These differences in transmission mean different populations of cats are at higher risk of infection. In the case of FIV, although both males and females get infected, intact outdoor males are at the highest risk of infection because they are usually the ones getting in fights. An FIV-positive cat that lives with other cats and interacts with them in a casual, non-aggressive manner is unlikely to infect them. Unlike FeLV, grooming is not thought to play a significant role in transmission of FIV. With FeLV, the fact that casual cat-...

If you have cats, you may have heard of 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? Here’s what you need to know about FIV, the FIV vaccine, why the vaccine was discontinued, and how you can safeguard your feline family members against infection. Why Was the FIV Vaccine Discontinued? From 2002 until 2017, the FIV vaccination was available in the United States and Canada. 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. Here are the four main reasons why cats no longer get the FIV vaccine. Indoor Cats Weren’t Usually at Risk The FIV vaccine for cats was considered a noncore vaccine, which means it was administered on a case-by-case basis—depending on an individual cat’s risk of infection. 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. Indoor cats generally have a very low risk of getting FIV and rarely received the FIV vaccine. So even when it was available, not many cats actuall...