Feline Immunodeficiency VirusThe Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) was first isolated from cats in 1986 and wasdiscovered due to an outbreak of FIV infected cats housed together in several pens (Pederson112). FIV belongs to the family Retroviridae, the subfamily Orthoretrovirinae, and the genusLentivirus (Taniwaki et al. 551-552). Being that FIV is a lentivirus, this means that it’s a “slowvirus” with long incubation periods that could last for years (CFHC). FIV is present worldwideand “in the United States, approximately 1.5 to 3 percent of healthy cats are infected with FIV”(CFHC). The virus is very similar to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).Transmission of infectious diseases usually occur through the shedding of the pathogen inthe
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111). Cats that live in environmentswhere they aren’t being well taken care of are naturally at a greater risk of infection. Cats can also be infected with FIV not only through biting, but by being kept in crowded,stressful environments such as kennels or shelters, where most will be susceptible to infectionsand where controlling the spread of disease is difficult (ANSC207 lecture notes). “Anothermethod of transmission is from an FIV infected mother to her kitten” (ASPCA). This mightoccur when the kitten is being passed through the birth canal or ingesting infected milk. Kittensthat are naturally infected and test positive for FIV antibodies, are more likely to experience theterminal AIDS-like phase (Pederson at al. 111). As opposed to the kittens that were are naturallyinfected, most of the kittens that are experimentally infected, become lifelong carriers of FIV.As previously mentioned, FIV infection is routinely diagnosed via blood testing(ASPCA). According to the ASPCA, it is most common to test for the presence of FIVantibodies in the blood. Once the cat has been diagnosed as FIV positive, it is then capable oftransmitting the disease to infect other cats. When a cat has been infected, the virus will usuallytravel to the lymph nodes, where it replicates in white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Soon,the virus spreads to the other lymph nodes throughout the body, thus further weakening the cat’simmune system. Cats …show more content…
118).FIV can be prevented by taking preemptive measures through testing for the virus,keeping one’s cat indoors, and administering one’s cat FIV vaccine. Vaccines help in preparingthe body’s immune system to fight infections and can be administered intramuscularly,subcutaneously or intranasally (ANSC207 lecture notes). Although, not all vaccinated cats willbe protected by the vaccine (CFHC). Taniwaki et al. conclude their paper by stating that theability of the cat to develop an immune response that is sufficient enough to reduce, notextinguish, FIV antibodies present in their system, may reflect an important factor for reducingthe speed of disease progression. Taniwaki et al. believe that the sheer complexity of the virus-host interaction, justifies the difficulty of developing effective treatments and vaccines.Yamamoto et al. conclude that if vaccinated cats managed to get infected with the virus and,somehow, were able to clear the disease (having low count of FIV antibodies); should the virusreappear (virus re-progressing), immunity may be stronger in these cats—compared to thosewho’d never been infected after vaccination. In comparison to development of the HIV vaccine,the FIV researchers and scientist have made incredible progress in their creation of the FIVvaccine.Most FIV-infected cats in the
111). Cats that live in environmentswhere they aren’t being well taken care of are naturally at a greater risk of infection. Cats can also be infected with FIV not only through biting, but by being kept in crowded,stressful environments such as kennels or shelters, where most will be susceptible to infectionsand where controlling the spread of disease is difficult (ANSC207 lecture notes). “Anothermethod of transmission is from an FIV infected mother to her kitten” (ASPCA). This mightoccur when the kitten is being passed through the birth canal or ingesting infected milk. Kittensthat are naturally infected and test positive for FIV antibodies, are more likely to experience theterminal AIDS-like phase (Pederson at al. 111). As opposed to the kittens that were are naturallyinfected, most of the kittens that are experimentally infected, become lifelong carriers of FIV.As previously mentioned, FIV infection is routinely diagnosed via blood testing(ASPCA). According to the ASPCA, it is most common to test for the presence of FIVantibodies in the blood. Once the cat has been diagnosed as FIV positive, it is then capable oftransmitting the disease to infect other cats. When a cat has been infected, the virus will usuallytravel to the lymph nodes, where it replicates in white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Soon,the virus spreads to the other lymph nodes throughout the body, thus further weakening the cat’simmune system. Cats …show more content…
118).FIV can be prevented by taking preemptive measures through testing for the virus,keeping one’s cat indoors, and administering one’s cat FIV vaccine. Vaccines help in preparingthe body’s immune system to fight infections and can be administered intramuscularly,subcutaneously or intranasally (ANSC207 lecture notes). Although, not all vaccinated cats willbe protected by the vaccine (CFHC). Taniwaki et al. conclude their paper by stating that theability of the cat to develop an immune response that is sufficient enough to reduce, notextinguish, FIV antibodies present in their system, may reflect an important factor for reducingthe speed of disease progression. Taniwaki et al. believe that the sheer complexity of the virus-host interaction, justifies the difficulty of developing effective treatments and vaccines.Yamamoto et al. conclude that if vaccinated cats managed to get infected with the virus and,somehow, were able to clear the disease (having low count of FIV antibodies); should the virusreappear (virus re-progressing), immunity may be stronger in these cats—compared to thosewho’d never been infected after vaccination. In comparison to development of the HIV vaccine,the FIV researchers and scientist have made incredible progress in their creation of the FIVvaccine.Most FIV-infected cats in the