2023-09-10 09:56:32
The disease, which occurs worldwide, also affects cats in Germany. The animals cannot be cured, but they can live very old if you pay attention to a few things.
A virus is worrying many cat lovers: FIV or the feline immunodeficiency virus is a viral disease of cats that occurs worldwide and is also colloquially known as cat AIDS. Around eleven percent of all cats worldwide and three percent in Germany are said to be affected. The FIV virus belongs to the retrovirus family and is closely related to the human AIDS virus.
For affected animals, an FIV infection leads to an increasing weakening of the immune system as the disease progresses. However, the process usually takes many years before it ultimately leads to death, if the final stage occurs at all. Unfortunately, FIV as such cannot be treated. There is also no vaccination. Veterinarians can only treat the side effects. “The primary source of infection is usually a bite injury,” explains Dr. Annekathrin Eckart, specialist veterinarian for small animals from Buxheim. In very rare cases, the FI virus can also be transmitted from the mother to puppies that have already been born. “But if the mother is bitten and infected during pregnancy, transmission to the puppies is much more likely. Mating is unlikely to be a source of infection, with the exception of biting the neck, which the tomcat likes to do,” says Eckart.
Symptoms and diagnosis of FIV
There are no typical symptoms of FIV. “The most common symptoms that can be found in practice and make it easier to diagnose FIV are recurring fever attacks of unknown origin, swollen lymph nodes and regularly recurring infections, be it a cold or inflammation of the gums,” says the specialist veterinarian.
After all, the quickest way to diagnose FIV is usually via a rapid test. “For this purpose, blood is taken from the animal and antibodies once morest the virus are detected using this rapid test. Although these rapid tests are relatively reliable, you should keep in mind that if you have a very recent infection with FIV, there may not be enough antibodies for the test to actually be positive,” explains Eckart. If FIV is suspected even though the rapid test is negative, the recommendation is now to repeat the test following 60 days. “You can of course also send blood to a third-party laboratory that provides further tests,” says Eckart.
Cat AIDS progresses in three stages
FIV can be roughly divided into three phases. “Phase one is the acute phase, which usually occurs one to three months following infection. During this time, the virus is transported to the lymph nodes and continues to multiply in white blood cells. During this phase, fever, swelling of the lymph nodes and the like may be noticeable. But it can also be so mild that you don’t even notice it,” explains Eckart. This is followed by phase two, the so-called asymptomatic or latent phase, which can last for months or even years. “In this phase, the virus reproduces very slowly in the immune system, so that very few, if any, symptoms are visible externally. If you look for it, you might be able to see changes in the blood proteins of infected cats through the blood, possibly even a slight reduction in white blood cells,” says the veterinarian. Some cats even remain in this phase, do not become seriously ill and therefore have a correspondingly normal life expectancy.
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“This phase is then followed by the third phase, the so-called progressive phase. The FI virus is so anchored in the cat’s immune system that an immune deficiency occurs, meaning the cat is more susceptible to other diseases. She can develop chronic diseases such as chronic cystitis, chronic colds or chronic respiratory problems, and inflammation of the gums also occurs quite often. Furthermore, tumor diseases, unexplained neurological abnormalities or weight loss are also more common in these cats,” explains Eckart.
Course and costs of treatment and prevention
If FIV is present, you can try to stabilize the cat’s immune system. “You can support the immune system by providing high-quality food and, of course, ensuring adequate water intake. It is also possible to detect any deficiencies and counteract them through regular blood checks. Ideally, you should even keep the cat indoors, as it can of course be contagious to other cats,” says Eckart. An infected cat remains infected throughout its life. “Nevertheless, in many cases you can hope for a very good and long life expectancy,” says the specialist veterinarian. It is important to avoid stress as much as possible, as it weakens the immune system.
The frequent question from cat owners regarding how to prevent infection is not easy to answer. “The consensus at the moment is, if possible, to castrate as many outdoor animals as possible in good time in order to suppress the hormonal territorial and mating behavior, which often goes hand in hand with bite injuries, and to separate FIV-positive mothers from the puppies immediately following birth.” Also in response to the question There is not always a simple answer to treatment costs and insurance coverage. “As we know, the symptoms are very diverse and if the bill does not explicitly state FIV as a diagnosis, but rather a cold, inflammation of the gums or inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, then there is a good chance that the health insurance company will cover the costs, provided that you have full insurance,” explains Eckart.
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