L8: FeLV And FIV (Levy) Flashcards
How is FeLV spread
- close contact and body fluids
- kittens of infected queens
- housemates
- fights
How is FIV spread?
- primarily by fighting
- sexual spread, mother to kittens uncommon
- most common in adult males
How long does FIV infection last?
Lifelong
CS or sequelae of FIV
- very long asymptomatic period
- stomatitis, uveitis, chronic infections, neoplasia (lymphoma, SCC)
Prevalence of FeLV and FIV
About 3% of all cats
Cornerstone of reducing exposure to FeLV/FIV
Testing!
-test all new pets, all exposed cats 60 days post-exposure, all sick cats, and before vaccination
Vaccination
- all kittens and at risk adults for FeLV
- at risk for FIV
Segregate infected from uninfected
Test FeLV for Ag or Ab?
Ag
Test FIV for Ag or Ab?
Ab
Confirmatory testing for FeLV***
1) IFA: has poor sensitivity, so only helpful if positive***
2) PCR
Should repeat testing monthly to detect regressive infection, esp. In kittens
Confirmatory testing for FIV**
1) PCR (only useful if positive)
2) Western blot (doesn’t add info)
3) Witness test can tell difference between vaccinated cat and FIV positive cat
-kittens born to FIV+ queens will have colostral Ab up to 5 months of age but are usually not infected (segregate and retest monthly)
See diagnostic algorithms in pics
:)
Mixing FIV positive and negative cats unlikely to be a problem unless the cats fight, but can try to segregate with a screen
:)
FeLV vaccination
- AAFP says only vax at risk cats and most kittens
- Dr. Levy says vaccinate all cats for FeLV, boost at 1 year, then evaluate life-style risk
- test before vaccinating
- not all cats protected by vaccine
FIV vaccination
- not recommended for routine use
- interferes w/ FIV diagnosis
- may use for “at risk”
Prevention in clinics of FIV/FeLV
- avoid iatrogenic transmission
- screen blood donors
- clean instruments
- spay and neuter before 5 months
