How did FIV start in cats?
FIV in domestic cats most likely originated with African lions, much like HIV-2 may have originated from simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV, in African monkeys. Like SIV in monkeys, FIV lentiviruses do not cause disease in African cats.
How long does it take a cat to show symptoms of FIV?
In this Article. Cats who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections.
Why did my Cat test positive for FIV?
FIV vaccines also cause a vaccinated cat to produce antibodies against the FIV virus that can be difficult to distinguish from those produced by a cat in response to natural infection with FIV. Cats who have been vaccinated will test positive for FIV antibodies, so it is essential to know the vaccination history if possible.
What kind of disease can cats get from FIV?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a complex retrovirus that’s similar to HIV. And similar to the way HIV can lead to AIDS, FIV can cause immunodeficiency disease in domestic cats. Immunodeficiency is the medical term that describes the body’s inability to develop a normal immune response.
How old do kittens have to be to get FIV?
Since it is possible for an infected mother cat to transfer FIV antibodies to her kittens, these kittens may test positive from their mother’s antibodies until they have cleared them from their systems, which happens by six months of age.
In this Article. Cats who are infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may not show symptoms until years after the initial infection occurred. Although the virus is slow-acting, a cat’s immune system is severely weakened once the disease takes hold. This makes the cat susceptible to various secondary infections.
FIV vaccines also cause a vaccinated cat to produce antibodies against the FIV virus that can be difficult to distinguish from those produced by a cat in response to natural infection with FIV. Cats who have been vaccinated will test positive for FIV antibodies, so it is essential to know the vaccination history if possible.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a complex retrovirus that’s similar to HIV. And similar to the way HIV can lead to AIDS, FIV can cause immunodeficiency disease in domestic cats. Immunodeficiency is the medical term that describes the body’s inability to develop a normal immune response.
Since it is possible for an infected mother cat to transfer FIV antibodies to her kittens, these kittens may test positive from their mother’s antibodies until they have cleared them from their systems, which happens by six months of age.