The syndrome of immunodéficience acquired of the cat is a serious Viral disease Chat. It is due to a virus called FIV (of the English Feline Immunodeficiency Virus ), a lentivirus (sub-group of Rétrovirus, near to HIV). This disease discovered in 1986 is responsible for a Immunodéficience which returns the Chat vulnerable to the Infection S.
It is equivalent to the AIDS of the Man, but there is no transmission risk of the cat to the man (the viruses are different). This disease is not either transmissible with the other species and thus reaches only the cats. The frequency of infection is variable according to the populations of cats. The infection is rare in the cats living in apartment and not being in contact with other cats, whereas it is frequent in the wandering cats (approximately 15% of the cats of the streets are carrying the virus).
Mode of transmission of the virus
The principal transmission resource is the bite at the time of brawls between cats (because the virus is present in the Salive), this is why in fact mainly not sterilized male cats are carrying this virus.
It can, sometimes, be transmitted by contact between cats at the time of contacts frequent and repeated (at the time of mutual licking, at the time of " nose with nez" …) or by blood way.
It can exist also a transmission by sexual way or at the time of the Gestation (of the mother to the kittens), but no certainty is established about the transmission fœto-nursery school.
The virus is very fragile in the external medium: it survives it a few tens of maximum minutes. The contamination of the places (by objects, by the ground) is almost impossible, especially if there is a serious disinfection after each cat.
Evolution of the disease and symptoms
The duration of Incubation is from 4 to 6 weeks. The disease comprises several phases.
-
1st phase of the disease : One can observe a moderated fever, a fall of the rate of the white globules and a light increase in the size of the lymphatic ganglia. This phase lasts approximately two months and passes often unperceived.
- 2nd phase of the disease : As for the cat-like Leucosis (FeLV) or the AIDS of man (HIV), the cat is Séropositif and does not present any Symptôme, the virus “sommeille” in its organization. It is on the other hand contagious for the other cats. This phase is one very variable duration, between 5 and approximately 10 years.
- 3rd phase of the disease : With the favor of an important stress, of a disease or without any reason, the cat becomes sick. The virus “awakes”. It multiplies and destroys white globules (blood cells), necessary to the defense of the cat against the diseases. There is thus a reduction in immunizing defenses what makes the cat very sensitive to the Microbe S, even those which are not very dangerous for cats unfulfilled by the FIV.
The cat is very thus often reached by diseases known as " opportunist " : in fact diseases benefit from the weakening of the animal to develop. It can also develop diseases known as " classiques" cat, it is then reached more seriously than a negative cat for the FIV.
The cat can thus present very varied diseases which can touch for example the respiratory tracts, the mouth, the intestines, the urinary tracts, etc Ainsi, one can in particular observe:
- of the general symptoms: fever, slimming, increase in size of the lymphatic ganglia;
- of the oral infections (Gingivite, stomatitis);
- of the Diarrhée S chronicles which do not cure in spite of the installation of treatments;
- of the infections of the eyes (Conjunctivitis S) or of the higher Breathing apparatus (Rhinitis S, Tracheitis S);
- of the repeating cutaneous abscesses;
- of the nervous disorders (Encéphalite, convulsions) or of the behavioral disorders.
Prevention and the detection of the disease
A Vaccin against the FIV has been marketed in North America for a few years. Its effectiveness is incomplete and its still discussed use. In Europe, there is no project of marketing of this vaccine which was developed with viral strains present primarily in North America.
The prevention passes by the avoidance of any contact between healthy and sick cats. It is also recommended to make sterilize the cats (male or female) which leave in order to avoid the brawls (and thus bites) and the venereal transmission of the virus.
It is thus important to especially detect this disease at the animals at the risk (male cats, wandering cats) and the new arrivals. That is in particular essential in the breedings or the chatteries when the animals are not placed in individual cages.
Treatment of the disease
There does not exist any treatment to destroy virus FIV. The care is specific and aims at the opportunist diseases as they reach the cat.
References
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