Changes

==Control==

==Control==

As the most significant mode of transmission of FIV is by biting, FIV positive animale should be neutered and, if possible, kept indoors to prevent onward spread of infection. At the very least, infected cats should be kept in at night, since this is when the majority of cat fights occur². In multicat households, the other cats should be tested for FIV antibody. Positive cats can then be segregated or rehomed so that FIV-negative cats do not contract infection. However, if fighting seldom occurs within a household, the risk of horizontal transmission is low and so many owners elect to keep the household as it is. If this is the case, cats should be fed from separate bowls, and bowls, litter trays and other fomites should be routinely disinfected. FIV positive queens should not be used for breeding, and any kittens that do happen to be born from infected mothers should be hand-reared to minimise the risk of infection through milk². Kittens should then be antibody testsed after six months of age.

As the most significant mode of transmission of FIV is by biting, FIV positive animals should be neutered and, if possible, kept indoors to prevent onward spread of infection. At the very least, infected cats should be kept in at night, since this is when the majority of cat fights occur². In multicat households, the other cats should be tested for FIV antibody. Positive cats can then be segregated or rehomed so that FIV-negative cats do not contract infection. However, if fighting seldom occurs within a household, the risk of horizontal transmission is low and so many owners elect to keep the household as it is. If this is the case, cats should be fed from separate bowls, and bowls, litter trays and other fomites should be routinely disinfected. FIV positive queens should not be used for breeding, and any kittens that do happen to be born from infected mothers should be hand-reared to minimise the risk of infection through milk². Kittens should then be antibody testsed after six months of age.

Although an inactivated whole-virus vaccine is available, its efficacy is highly variable and often low after three doses⁵. The vaccine is not available in the UK, and the WSAVA guidelines advise against its use as it can later prevent diagnosis of FIV associated disease. One of the major obstacles to vaccine design is the massive genomic variability between FIV strains. It is unlikely that any effective FIV vaccine will appear on the market for several years².

Although an inactivated whole-virus vaccine is available, its efficacy is highly variable and often low after three doses⁵. The vaccine is not available in the UK, and the WSAVA guidelines advise against its use as it can later prevent diagnosis of FIV associated disease by ELISA or immunoblot. One of the major obstacles to vaccine design is the massive genomic variability between FIV strains. It is unlikely that any effective FIV vaccine will appear on the market for several years².

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==