Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is an infectious disease caused by a virus that causes immunosuppression in cats resulting in secondary infections. Cats typically transmit the virus when they fight, when infected saliva comes into contact with healthy blood. IVF cannot be transmitted to humans. There aren't many quick ways to tell if your cat has FIV. However, this article will help you identify some signs and symptoms, and give you information on how the virus is diagnosed in the laboratory.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms of an Infection
Step 1. Know that the symptoms of FIV may not show up for several months after the infection
FIV works slowly and after your cat contracts the virus (usually in a fight) it can take two to six months to notice the first symptoms of the infection.
After a fight, the cat may have scratches, cuts or at most abscesses caused by bacterial infections, but the presence of FIV is not identifiable
Step 2. Check for any transient symptoms of the infection
The cat will begin to show the first transient symptoms only after 2 or 6 months after contracting the virus. These symptoms include: fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite. These signs disappear after a week or two.
- This phase coincides with the expansion of the virus into the bloodstream, known as viraemia.
- When these symptoms subside, the cat is apparently healthy for months or even years, until FIV makes him sick again.
Step 3. The secondary stage of the infection has specific symptoms
At this stage, the disease is caused by the virus gradually attacking the white blood cells used to fight the infection.
- As a result, the cat's immune system weakens and simple infections could become serious.
- The secondary stage of IVF can be identified by the symptoms described in the next steps.
Step 4. Check if the cat has stomatitis or gingivitis
Even if a cat is completely healthy, its mouth is full of bacteria. In the event that the animal has a weak immune system, the bacteria multiply, or causing inflammation of the oral cavity (stomatitis) and gums (gingivitis).
Step 5. Observe your cat for any symptoms of rhinitis
Rhinitis is an infection of the nasal passages. Normally, the nose acts as a filter for airborne bacteria. When the immune system is weak, the invasion of bacteria and possible infections in the nasal passages could be immediate.
During the secondary phase, thoracic infections that develop in the same way as those of the nasal passages are also common
Step 6. Check if your cat has yeast infections
Fungi are practically everywhere, but they usually pose no problem as the immune system protects the skin and prevents fungal infections from occurring.
- However, a compromised immune system leads to other problems such as ringworm or mycosis.
- Even the skin is affected: the bacteria on its surface increase dramatically, causing infections.
Step 7. Notice if your cat frequently suffers from diarrhea
During the secondary phase of IVF, the balance of the intestinal flora is not under control and cases of diarrhea may occur.
Step 8. Notice the cat's general clinical condition
When a cat contracts FIV, other viruses, which usually do not cause any problems, overwhelm the weakened immune system causing secondary infections, such as cattlepox which causes severe ulcers and inflammation of the skin.
Part 2 of 2: Doing the Tests for the Diagnosis of IVF
Step 1. Call your vet to book tests
If your cat is sick and your vet suspects he has FIV, the first tests to do are ELISA type ones. The vet will take about 1ml of blood from the cat for analysis in the laboratory. Results are usually ready after 15 minutes.
- If the test is negative, but the cat still has symptoms of FIV, it is best to repeat it after about 6 weeks.
- Only if the second test is negative can the vet assure you that the cat does not have FIV.
Step 2. If the ELISA test is positive, have a feline DNA sample taken and request a PCR
This test is carried out in an external laboratory and the results can arrive even after 2 weeks, but it is able to identify even small quantities of DNA belonging to a contaminant. If the result is positive, it means that the cat has FIV in the blood.
- If the test result is positive, it is always better to confirm it with another exam to avoid errors. Most veterinarians send the blood sample to commercial laboratories for a PCR.
- If the CRP is positive, unfortunately the cat has FIV. If it is negative, your cat may be fighting the infection. In these circumstances, it is recommended to repeat the ELISA test after 6 weeks; if the results are negative it means that the cat was exposed to FIV but its immune system was able to defeat it.
Step 3. Understand the diagnostic procedures
Diagnosing FIV is complicated, but in general the combination of the results of these tests indicates that a cat has contracted the virus and will become ill in the future:
- A positive ELISA test result, followed by a positive PCR.
- Two positive ELISA test results, confirmed by a positive PCR.
- A positive PCR result.
Step 4. Be aware that a healthy cat with FIV may not have any health problems for many years
- Even if your cat is healthy, it is important to always remember that FIV weakens the body's immune system and the cat will be more prone to getting infections that could cause complications. However, adequate antibiotic therapy given promptly is usually sufficient to avoid complications.
- More and more cats with FIV are able to live a long time and often do not die from the infection, but from old age!
Step 5. Talk to your vet about the chances of recovery if your cat has symptoms of FIV
If the tests were done because the cat is sick and unresponsive to drug therapies, there is not much chance that it will stay alive. If you have severe infections, such as pneumonia, your immune system may not be able to fight it.
