Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pets in many families are in a privileged position, they are fed, groomed, cherished. And they are very worried if something happens to dogs, cats or fish. This article will focus on one of the most serious diseases caused by the feline immunodeficiency virus. Let's try to find out what kind of pathology it is, what are its causes, symptoms, and is there a way to salvation.

General information

The feline immunodeficiency virus was first discovered in 1986 in the United States. Veterinarians at one of the catteries located in Northern California, conducting research on the increasing cases of the spread of chronic immunodeficiency in cats, discovered the causative agent of the disease.

Following this, pathogens were found already in Europe, first in Switzerland, then in Holland, France, Great Britain. To date, experts saythat the infection is endemic, this means that more and more animals are becoming sick.

The main area of damage in human four-legged friends is the immune system, hence the term "feline immunodeficiency virus". It is considered the feline equivalent of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which causes AIDS. A similar name has been put into practice - FIV, in the English transcription FIV, which stands for Felineimmunodeficiencyvirus. Further in the material these terms will be found (in abbreviated or full form).

Causes of disease

Chronic immunodeficiency in cats is classified by experts as a retrovirus, which, in turn, belongs to the lentivirus family. In cats and humans, viruses are somewhat similar, but have their own specifics. The main cause of the disease is a virus that is transmitted from a sick animal to a he althy one through contact. Both an animal that lives on the street and a pet that is constantly cared for can get sick.

One of the frequently asked questions on the forums: "Is the feline immunodeficiency virus dangerous to humans?". There is only one answer - VIV, which causes pathologies in pets, does not affect human he alth in any way, just as HIV is not transmitted to the cat tribe.

Statistics

The Americans are the most active in the study of this pathology, because it was on this continent that the virus was first discovered. According to statistical studies, immunodeficiency occurs in 1-3% of cats.

Risk group

At risk are wildor stray animals that do not have a permanent home and care. FIV is more likely to occur in adult animals between the ages of 5 and 10 years. Pets can get sick when in contact with sick cats, and then only in special cases.

Main pathways for VIC distribution

For any person who has a cat, the he alth of the pet is in the first place, because it is so important to know how FIV is transmitted in order to protect the pet. Scientists have made several important conclusions, the main one is that the virus is contained in the saliva of sick animals.

Another result of the research is that females acquire FIC much less often than males, this conclusion is obvious, since the representatives of the strong half of the cat tribe are a priori more aggressive and are ready to find out superiority in fights. While cats show aggression much less often, for example, in the case of protecting cubs.

Under natural conditions, perinatal transmission of the virus is theoretically possible, although scientists cannot currently determine whether the virus is transmitted during pregnancy or childbirth. There have also been no cases of animal-to-human transmission.

To infect a he althy animal, it is necessary that the saliva with the virus enters its body, thus inoculation, that is, the inoculation of the virus from one animal to another, occurs with bites and fights characteristic of adults.

These conclusions can please the owners of domestic cats, because, firstly, the kittens are safe due to their age, and secondly, a simplecontact, accidental contacts cannot cause the transmission of the virus and, accordingly, lead to diseases. The same can be said about mating, in which infection does not occur. Knowledge of distribution pathways helps hosts take proactive action.

Mechanism of development of pathology

Feline immunodeficiency virus, getting into the body of an animal, attacks T-lymphocytes, has a cytopathic effect. The disease progresses, the number of helper T-lymphocytes in the body, which are called CD4, decreases sharply. This leads to a change in the proportion of the ratio of clones CD8 and CD4, the indicators sharply diverge from the norm.

Viruses are characterized by lability. Can be stored for more than 3 days at room temperature. Elevated temperature helps to reduce the number of viruses, at a temperature of 60 ° C they die. Viruses are relatively resistant to ultraviolet radiation, lose activity when treated with alcohol and alcohol-containing liquids, ether or hypochlorite.

Variations in the strain of the virus have been discovered by scientists in other felines living in the wild. But their pathogenicity is reduced compared to cats living close to humans. Experts explain this by the fact that in the wild, animals initially have stronger immunity, which helps them withstand stress, endure diseases, including FIV.

Symptoms of the disease

At the first signs of illness in an animal, it is important for the owner to determine: thisa common infection or the feline immunodeficiency virus, the symptoms of the latter pathology are pronounced, although at the first stage changes in well-being are not very noticeable. The incubation period for FIV is four to six weeks, depending on the individual pet.

Then comes the acute stage of pathology development. A high temperature (40 ° C, and in some cases even higher) is the first sign that an animal has a feline immunodeficiency virus, other symptoms are associated with the digestive and endocrine systems. Cats may experience the following:

• anemia;
• indigestion and diarrhea;
• inflammatory processes on the skin;
• leucopenia;
• neutropenia.

Another important symptom of FIV is swollen lymph nodes, which can be easily identified by palpation.

The next stage in the development of FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is latent, that is, hidden. Its minimum duration is several months, the maximum period when the disease did not manifest itself, determined by scientists, is three years. During this time, the animal acquires immunodeficiency syndrome, the disease becomes chronic.

The late stage of the disease in animals passes against the background of irreversible exhaustion, it is also possible to exhibit behavioral abnormalities, clear signs of damage to the central nervous system.

What pathological changes occur in the body?

FIV in animals goes through several stages, each of which has a different duration and character. The final stage of the diseasefeline chronic immunodeficiency virus, the symptoms become less pronounced, but pets acquire a whole bunch of various pathologies. The most common diseases are:

• mucosal lesions of various organs, primarily gums, oral cavity;
• diarrhea, and in a chronic form;
• exhaustion due to loss of appetite;
• inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, occasionally accompanied by fever.

Inflammatory processes are common in feline immunodeficiency syndrome. Inflammation affects the organs of hearing, vision, and the genitourinary system.

Interestingly, the same pathologies develop in oncological diseases of pets, cancer and leukemia. This is explained simply: with cancer, the same immunodeficiency states occur.

Diagnosis of "feline AIDS"

In order to find out what kind of pathology develops in the cat's body, whether it is related to FIV or is associated with other, less serious problems, various diagnostic methods are used. Most often, specialists offer the following medical examinations to hosts:

• serological;
• immunological.

The first direction allows you to find out how seronegative antibodies relate to the feline immunodeficiency virus. The purpose of the research is to determine the state of T-lymphocytes, what is the ratio of subpopulations of these same lymphocytes.

The most difficult thing is when the disease "calms down", enters a latent phase. In studies, a positive serological reaction is noted. Therefore, some researchers believe that antibodies to the feline immunodeficiency virus fiv seronegative can help cope with the disease.

Treatment

Establishing a correct diagnosis by a veterinarian allows timely treatment. Unfortunately, at present, scientists cannot offer a drug that allows you to end the problem once and for all. In special forums, requests of this type often appear: “Does the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) disappear when treated with antibiotics?”. The owners, worried about their pet, are trying to find a panacea in these medicines.

But the use of antibiotics, like other drugs recommended by the veterinary services, helps to cope with individual symptoms or solve the problem with only one pathology, such as inflammation. Modern medicine is still powerless to solve the problem in a complex. It is proposed to work in two directions:

• treatment of symptoms, treatment of certain diseases;
• increase immunity in pets.

Than to treat

As a treatment, it is proposed to administer the following types of immunoglobulin:

• anti-measles;
• antiflu.

This uses normal human immunoglobulin. It is administered once every few days either intramuscularly or subcutaneously. And the same antibiotics prescribed in parallel shouldhave a wide spectrum of action and suppress pathogenic microflora. The most commonly recommended drugs by veterinarians are:

• Ampioks;
• "Ampicillin";
• Penicillin.

Additional treatment, or rather, to strengthen the immune system, are multivitamin preparations. Antihistamines relieve allergic reactions, and also contribute to the normalization of the functions of various internal organs. Routine vaccination helps the body of a sick animal to resist the emergence of new infections.

Prevention measures

What to do with a sick animal, described above, now I would like to pay attention to the prevention of diseases. Various preventive measures can conditionally "stop" the feline immunodeficiency virus (symptoms). And treatment is good, but preventing disease is even better.

Unfortunately, scientists have not yet come up with a formula for a preventive vaccination against the so-called feline AIDS. Owners need to carefully monitor their pets, follow the following recommendations:

• limit contact with stray cats;
• keep pets out of street fights.

Veterinarians also say that castration of cats affects the activity of animals, reduces their desire to participate in "battles" for territory, that is, in fights. If several pets live in the house, it is recommended from time to time to conduct tests for the presence of immunodeficiency syndrome in them. If an animal is identified as a carrier of the virus, measures should be taken to isolate it.

Recommendations for cattery owners

He alth maintenance and preventive measures should not only be carried out by pet owners. The inhabitants of catteries require special attention. Owners should clearly understand that when a large number of animals are in close proximity to each other, then the chances of transmission of any infection increase dramatically.

The same applies to the immunodeficiency virus: attempts by animals to prove their leadership, to become masters in a particular territory, can lead to fights. This, in turn, allows the saliva of an infected animal to enter the body of a he althy cat, leading to the spread of infection in the cattery.

If possible, it is necessary to create conditions for pets for free, separate living, habitation. It is necessary to prevent fights, respectively, damage and injuries. Cats older than childhood should be regularly examined by a veterinarian, conduct clinical studies for the presence of a virus in the body.

A positive FIV test is not a reason to euthanize or part with an animal. If the pathology is detected at an early stage, then most recently the feline immunodeficiency virus has entered the body. Treatment and care can bear fruit. The animal will live for many more years and will delight the owners.