![]() ![]() ![]() Infection is much more common in outdoor cats, and is about twice as common in male cats compared with female cats. In general, among healthy cats around 1-5% will be infected with FIV but in high risk cats (for example in cats with signs of recurrent disease suggesting immunosuppression) the prevalence may be as high as 15-20%. 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. The prevalence (frequency) of FIV infection varies in different cat populations. Increased replication of the virus leads to progressive damage to the immune system. In most cases this will probably be around 2-5 years after the cat was first infected. An immune response will develop which does not eliminate the virus, but keeps viral replication at a relatively low level.Īfter 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. Usually these signs are so mild they go unnoticed. 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. This may eventually cause a gradual decline in the cat’s immune function. ![]() The virus may kill or damage the cells it infects, or compromise their normal function. How does FIV cause disease?įIV infects cells of the immune system (white blood cells, mainly lymphocytes). 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. Rarely, the virus may also be spread by non-aggressive contact between cats (eg, mutual grooming), from a pregnant queen to her kittens and it can also be spread through blood transfusions. The virus does not survive long in the environment and is readily killed by common disinfectants. The most common way for the virus to be transmitted from one cat to another is via a cat bite, where saliva cottoning the virus is inoculated under the skin of another cat. Once a cat has been infected with FIV, the infection is virtually always permanent (cats cannot eliminate the virus), and the virus will be present in the saliva of an infected cat. Lentiviruses typically only cause disease slowly and thus infected cats may remain healthy for many years. What is FIV and how is it spread?įeline immunodeficiency virus belongs to the retrovirus family of viruses in a group called lentiviruses. Once infected, a cat will remain infected with the virus for life, and after a period that may last several years, the virus may damage the cat’s immune response and lead to signs of disease. ![]() Cats are most commonly infected with FIV through bite wounds. Thus there is no risk of infection for people in contact with FIV-positive cats. Although HIV and FIV are very similar, the viruses are species specific, which means that FIV only infects cats and HIV only infects humans. The virus was first discovered during the investigation of a disease outbreak in a previously healthy colony of rescue cats in the USA, that had been showing similar signs to people with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an important viral infection of cats that occurs worldwide. ![]()
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