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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (view source)
Revision as of 12:44, 27 August 2010
, 12:44, 27 August 2010→Transmission and Epidemiology
==Transmission and Epidemiology==
==Transmission and Epidemiology==
The major route of transmission is via saliva, especially through biting, and those cats exhibiting territorial aggression are most at risk of infection. Vertical transmission can also occur but the importance of this is not known. Venereal transmission has not been reported. Within households horizontal transmission can occur but the level of infection can be very variable. In some households only a single cat in a group may be FIV positive, whereas in others nearly every cat may be infected. Overall it appears that if fighting among cats housed together is rare, the prevalence of FIV is likely to be low.
The major route of transmission is via saliva, particularly through biting<sup>2, 3</sup>. Therefore, those cats showing territorial aggression are most at risk of contracting FIV. High levels of virus are found in the saliva of infected cats, particularly those in the stages of acute or terminal infection<sup>3</sup>. Less commonly, salivary transmission can occur via shared food bowls and mutual grooming. Vertical transmission can occur, either transplacentally or via milk<sup>2</sup>, but venereal transmission has not been reported. The potential role of blood-sucking insects, such as fleas, in spreading infection is unknown<sup>2</sup>.
It is clearly possible that horizontal transmission can occur within multi-cat households, but in some households only a single cat in a group may be FIV positive, whereas in others nearly every cat may be infected. Overall it appears that if fighting among cats housed together is rare, the prevalence of FIV is likely to be low.
==Pathogenesis==
==Pathogenesis==