Feline AIDS Symptoms: Recognizing Signs in Cats

What is Feline AIDS?

Feline AIDS, also known as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), is a contagious disease in cats that attacks their immune system, making them more susceptible to other infections. On average, cats diagnosed with FIV have a survival rate of only five years.

Symptoms of Feline AIDS

In the early stages of FIV infection, the virus replicates in T lymphocytes within nearby lymph nodes before spreading throughout the body to other lymph nodes.

Infected cats may experience a gradual decline in health, with common symptoms including chronic upper respiratory diseases, weight loss, fever, oral inflammation, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, diarrhea, and chronic dermatitis.

Feline AIDS can be categorized into three stages based on clinical features: acute, asymptomatic, and terminal.

1. Acute Stage

Symptoms include fever, depression, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, and lymph node swelling.

2. Asymptomatic Stage

Most infected cats remain asymptomatic carriers of the virus, with this stage potentially lasting for years without affecting their quality of life.

3. Terminal Stage

The late stage of AIDS infection is characterized by weight loss, persistent diarrhea, gingivitis, chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic respiratory symptoms, chronic dermatitis, tumors, and other symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Feline AIDS

1. Feline AIDS Diagnosis

Clinical tests for FIV are often rapid screening kits for FIV/leukemia, but they have limitations in distinguishing between antibodies induced by vaccines and those produced by the pathogen.

Cats infected with FIV may only show obvious symptoms in a small percentage, with most cats testing positive only after 60 days of infection, and some even after six months.

2. Feline AIDS Treatment

If there are no clinical symptoms, treatment is not necessary, and cats should be kept indoors, regularly dewormed, and fed highquality food.

If clinical symptoms appear, it is important to identify and treat other possible causes of the symptoms.

For cats with gingivitis, avoid using corticosteroids and try antiviral drugs such as zidovudine, antibiotics, and cat interferon IFNω; if these are ineffective, dental extraction may be necessary.

For cats with neurological symptoms, if the symptoms are caused by other diseases, treat those diseases; if not, zidovudine can be used.

For cats with recurrent infections, aggressive antiinfection and antiviral treatments are recommended.

Transmission of Feline AIDS

The primary mode of transmission for FIV is through saliva, including through deep bite wounds during cat fights and through the licking of kittens by infected queens.

Cattocat sexual contact is not a major route of FIV transmission, and it does not spread through social interactions between cats, meaning that the chances of FIV transmission through shared feeding bowls, drinking water, or grooming are very low.

Prevention of Feline AIDS

There is still much controversy surrounding the FIV vaccine in China, as postregistration testing has shown that the vaccine can result in a positive FIV test, complicating diagnosis. Therefore, the most important preventive measure is to be vigilant about infections between cats. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Avoid keeping too many cats to minimize fighting.

2. Isolate new members or existing cats immediately if they are infected with FIV.

3. Spay or neuter cats at an appropriate age to reduce territorial fighting.

4. Regularly check the health of your cats.

FelOVax® FIV Vaccine

This vaccine, which became available in the United States in 2002, is effective against FIV AE subtypes and has been introduced in Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. However, there is no FIV vaccine available in China.

Why does VGG classify the FIV vaccine as not recommended?

The vaccine's effectiveness against different subtypes of the virus in various geographic areas and recombinant viruses is questionable.

The vaccine can interfere with antibody testing, which is often used for diagnosis.

The vaccine requires repeated immunizations (three initial doses, followed by an annual booster), and there is a risk of sarcoma at the injection site.

Even if a cat tests positive for FIV, it does not necessarily mean there is no hope. By providing highprotein food and protecting against secondary diseases, cats can still live a normal lifespan.

Oxygen Pet Doctor Tip: To learn more about the causes of Feline AIDS, click on "How is Feline AIDS Caused" to continue reading.