ASK THE VET-TECH
By Amy Batchellor, LVT
Q: Why is it so important to test and retest for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
A: FeLV and FIV account for the highest number of feline-related deaths from infectious diseases globally, affecting millions of cats each year. FeLV and FIV testing provides a chance for infected cats to lead healthy lives with proper medical care, reduces transmission to other cats by identifying positive cats and provides peace of mind for the pet owner. Fortunatley, only a small sample of blood is required to test for these infections. An "in-house" test (ELISA by Idexx, considered to be the gold standard) is performed at Cat Sense. It usually takes 10 minutes, allowing you to consult with the doctor before leaving the clinic. To confirm a negative test, especially if your cat is suspected of exposure, the test should be repeated in 3 months. It is important to realize that cats with a latent infection test negative, but may still develop FeLV/FIV later in life. This is why it is very important to retest! For samples that test positive it is necessary to send a follow-up test, called an IFA test, to a veterinary laboratory to confirm that the cat is truly positive. The ELISA test does have a 10% false positive rate. Results should be availbale in a matter of days.
Q: What are FeLV and FIV and how can my cat get this infection?
A: FeLV is a type of cancer caused by the Feline Leukemia Virus, a retrovirus which affects freely roaming or domestic cats. A retrovirus contains RNA and many of them produce tumors. FeLV is most commonly spread via tha saliva and nasal secretions of infected cats. It is also shed in the urine, feces and an infected mother can pass it to her kittens during gestation and nursing. Methods of transmission include: bite wounds, blood transfusions, mouth and nose contact, mutual grooming, nose to nose contact, sneezing and shared dishes and litterboxes. Cats may not show symptoms/signs of this disease for months or years after being infected. Symptoms depend on the type of virus and the stage of disease. The most common are decreased appetite and weight loss, depression, chronic recurring infections, swollen lymph nodes, fever, poor coat condition and neurologic disorders.
FIV, commonly known as Feline AIDS, is a lentivirus. Alentivirus is a slow virus that causes disease, having an unusually long incubation period. It is also a retrovirus, in the same family as FeLV and HIV in humansa. FIV is NOT a zoonotic disease, meaning that it cannot be passed to a human. It attacks the immune system and the cat is then unable to fight off varios infections and cancers. FIV is not transmitted by prolonged close contact like FeLV. FIV is shed in the saliva and then transmitted by bitewounds. It is very important to have your cat tested for FIV afetr being bitten. Retesting at a later date is important to ensure that the virus was not incubating or latent at the time of the first test. It can also be passed, though rarely, to kittens if the mother is infected during gestation or lactation. The clinical signs of FIV are lethargy, decreased appetite and weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, chronic oral, skin, ear and eye infections, chronic respiratory disease, chronic diarrhea, or anemia or neoplasia (tumor growth).
Q: How can I keep my cat from getting FeLV or FIV?
A: Keep your cat indoors or supervise visits outside. Do noy let your cat wander on its own.
Only infection free cats/kittens should be adopted into a household of uninfected cats. If you adopt a cat/kitten, make sure it is kept seperately until it can be tested.
If you have a cat that contracts one of these infections, house infection-free cats seperately. Make sure they do not share any bowls or litterboxes.
If you are unable to keep your cat indoors, consider the FeLV vaccination. This vaccination should be given for the life of your cat, if he continues to go outdoors unsupervised.
If your cat is diagnosed with either FeLV or FIV, they should be kept indoors at all times
