02 - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Question 1

(FIV)

1. what kind of virus is this?

Answer 1

1. lentivirus subfamily of retrovirus

RNA virus

Question 2

(FIV)

(Epidemiology)

1. higher in free roaming
2. most prevalent in cats > 6 yrs

Question 3

(FIV)

(transmission)

1. how is it usually transmitted?

Answer 3

1. bite wounds (shed in saliva)

Question 4

(FIV)

(path)

1. infects what?
2. results in what?

Answer 4

1. T lymphocytes

(loss of CD4, then loss of CD8 later)

2. immunodeficiency

(eventually fatal)

Question 5

(FIV)

(Cx)

1. just like HIV…
2. can cause neurologic damage

Question 6

(FIV)

(dx)

1. what test is useful for screening?
2. what is the gold standard for confirming FIV?

Answer 6

1. the ELISA antibody test
2. Western Blot

(confirm any positive ELISA results with western blot)

Question 7

(FIV)

(tx)

1. there are anti-viral therapies, but they aren’t super effective and have side fx
2. general supportive tx

Question 8

FIV cats can liver several years before exhibiting clinical signs

Question 9

(FIV)

(prevention)

1. prevent exposure to other potentially infected cats
2. spay/neuter outdoor cats to prevent fithing
3. there is a vx, but it isn’t great (make sure cat FIV neg before giving)