Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Also known as: FIV

Transmission and Epidemiology

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is commonly abbreviated to FIV

• Unrelated to HIV
• No vaccinal protection between USA Petulama prototype and UK (Hayling Island) isolate

• Cats, including large cats on game reserves
• Transfer via saliva, though usually through a bite (FIV is the disease of enemies)
• Can transfer via milk or mutual grooming in multicat households
• Also transferred via mating
• Particular concern amongst stray males: 3.5% of healthy UK cats are seropositive, but in stray toms, up to 10% are positive
• Four-fold more common in diseased cats than in healthy cats

Pathogenesis

• Receptor: CD134, found on monocyte-derived macrophages and activated T cells
  • Net effect: disruption of acquired immune response
• Infected cats develop antibody whether or not they are able to clear the virus

Two versions:

• Avirulent:
  • Transient infection with no CD4 decline
• Virulent:
  • Progressive CD4 decline with three stages (may present indistinct)
    1. High circulating virus for 1-10 weeks with resulting lymphoid depletion and CD8CD4 double positive Tcell destruction, thymic aplasia esp in kittens
    2. Remission: decrease in circulating virus as immune response increases, followed by immune exhaustion
       • Increase in CD8+ production and antibody response
       • Paracortical T cells and lymphoid follicles expand in primary and secondary lymph tissue and may be visible as white nodules
    3. Rapidly progressing infection with high virus present
       • Feline AIDS presents in a minority of cases
       • Nonregenerative anemia
       • Leucopenia
       • Neutropenia
       • Skin infections
       • Usually followed by secondary infection as a result of immunosuppression
       • Virus-ridden T cell destroy normal T cells, causing chronic immunosuppression

Diagnosis

Laboratory Tests

• ELISA for serum antibody
  • False positives occur, particularly in the presence of maternal Ab
• Positives can be confirmed by lab work (Western blotting)

Control

• No UK vaccine
• Healthy positive cats should have diagnose confirmed by further testing
• Isolate and castrate
• Preventative neutering of males

(FIV)

• Lentivirus
• Subtypes A, B and D
• Causes increased susceptibility to infections and neoplasia
• Specifically destroys CD4+ T cells
• Virus is present in saliva, blood and other bodily fluids
• Feral and outdoor cats (mostly tom cats) are most at risk
• Virus replicates in lymphoid tissue
• Can remain asymptomatic
• Causes pyrexia and lymphadenopathy
• Transmitted by biting
• Diagnosis:
  • ELISA
  • Rapid-Immuno-Migration
  • Western Blot
  • Virus Isolation
  • Immunofluorescence
  • PCR
• Treatment:
  • Antibiotics for secondary infection
  • Anti-retroviral therapy
• For vaccinations see here