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Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), commonly known as Helen AIDS is a lentivirus that affects domesticated housecats worldwide. According to Richards (Dec 2005:215-217), 11% of cats worldwide are infected with FIV. According to another study, 2.5% of cats in the USA are infected with FIV (Zislin Dec 2005, p. 219-220). FIV is in the same retrovirus family as Feline leukemia virus (FeLV). FIV differs taxonomically from two other feline retroviruses, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline foamy virus (FFV). Within FIV, five subtypes have been identified based on amino acid sequence differences coding for the viral envelope. FIV is not a death sentence for cats, but is also not curable. A vaccine is available although its efficacy remains uncertain.[1] Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Virus classification involves naming and placing viruses into a taxonomic system. ... ss-RNA RT is the single stranded Ribonucleic acid genome that is present in the HIV virus. ... Genera Alpharetrovirus Betaretrovirus Gammaretrovirus Deltaretrovirus Epsilonretrovirus Lentivirus Spumavirus A retrovirus is a virus which has a genome consisting of two identical plus sense RNA molecules. ... Lentivirus (lenti-, Latin for slow) is a genus of slow viruses of the Retroviridae family, characterized by a long incubation period. ... Lentivirus (lenti-, Latin for slow) is a genus of slow viruses of the Retroviridae family, characterized by a long incubation period. ... Binomial name Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms Felis lybica invalid junior synonym The cat (or domestic cat, house cat) is a small carnivorous mammal. ... Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that affects domesticated housecats worldwide. ... Genera Alpharetrovirus Betaretrovirus Gammaretrovirus Deltaretrovirus Epsilonretrovirus Lentivirus Spumavirus A retrovirus is any virus belonging to the viral family Retroviridae. ... a family of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 Family is a Western term used to denote a domestic group of people, or a number of domestic groups linked through descent (demonstrated or stipulated) from a common ancestor, marriage or adoption. ... Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus that infects cats. ...

FIV was first discovered in 1986 in a colony of cats that had a high prevalence of opportunistic infections and degenerative conditions, and has since been identified as an endemic disease in domestic cat populations worldwide (Johnson 2005). This article is about the medical term. ...

The primary mode of FIV transmission is deep bite wounds, whereas FeLV is easily spread by casual contact such as grooming and shared water bowls. Experts disagree as to whether FIV can be spread by casual contact. The virus is also transmitted via mucosal surfaces such as those in the mouth, rectum, and vagina. Grooming refers to removing obvious imperfections in ones appearance, or improving ones hygiene. ...

FIV attacks the immune system of cats, much like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system of human beings. FIV infects many cell types in its host, including CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages. FIV eventually leads to debilitation of the immune system in its feline hosts by the infection and exhaustion of T-helper (CD4+) cells. A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ...

FIV and HIV are both lentiviruses; however, neither can infect the other's usual host: humans cannot be infected by FIV nor can cats be infected by HIV. FIV is transmitted primarily through saliva (bites), such as those incurred during territorial battles between males. Cats housed exclusively indoors are much less likely to be infected, provided they do not come in contact with infected cats.

FIV infected cats are often euthanised. A vigilant pet owner who treats secondary infections can make a difference. An infected cat can often live a nearly normal life span (Might 2004). The chance that an FIV infected cat will pass the disease onto other cats within a household is very low as long as there is no fighting or biting (American Association of Feline Practitioners 2002). Keeping infected cats separated from disease-free cats is the only sure way of preventing the spread of the disease.

The disease occurs in three stages: First is the Acute Stage (1-2 months after transmission) in which fever, depression, and generalized lymphadenopathy are observed (Wise 2005). Second is the Subclinical Stage (4 weeks to X months after transmission), in which symptoms of the disease decrease or disappear; however, all cats remain viremic for life. Third is the Chronic Stage, in which cats eventually succumb to chronic infections due to suppressed immune system function. Cats may incur stomatitis, odontoclasia, periodontitis, gingivitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonitis, enteritis, and dermatitis in the later stages of infection. Lymphadenopathy is a term meaning disease of the lymph nodes. ...

FIV infects other feline species, and in fact is endemic in some large wild cats, such as African lions. Unlike domestic cats, these species do not necessarily exhibit symptoms, perhaps because they have developed evolutionary mutations that confer resistance. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... For linguistic mutation, see Apophony. ...

References

American Association of Feline Practitioners (2002), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, <http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html>

Johnson (2005), Proceedings, <http://www.ivis.org/proceedings/acvp/2005/Johnson/chapter.asp?LA=1>

Might, Jennifer Lynne (2004), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), <http://www.blackgiraffe.com/jmight/fiv/fiv.html>

Richards, J. R. (Dec 2005), "Feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine: Implications for diagnostic testing and disease management.", Biologicals 33 (4): 215-217

Wise (2005), Chapter, <http://www.ivis.org/advances/carter/Part2Chap15/chapter.asp?LA=1#fel_immuno>

Zislin, Arne (Dec 2005), "Feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine: A rational paradigm for clinical decision-making.", Biologicals 33 (4): 219-220