Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
INTRODUCTION
Feline immunodeficiency virus, or also known as feline AIDS, is a lentivirus associated with an immunodeficiency disease in domestic cats (Summers, p. 233). This disease is host specific, only affecting cats that are mainly living outdoors and it mainly affects male, intact cats. There are many clinical signs that are associated with the FIV virus. The clinical signs range from mild to chronic symptoms, but some cats may remain asymptomatic by showing no symptoms for long periods of time. There are also a few ways to prevent cats from being exposed to the FIV virus. Clients who own a cat should be aware of what this virus is by being aware of the clinical signs, prevention methods, how to diagnose this virus, treatment methods and the prognosis of this disease.
FIV causes a lifelong infection and gradually progressive decline in immune function that leads to an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. FIV has a primary tropism for lymphocytes but also infects macrophages, salivary glands, and the central nervous system. FIV primarily infects and gradually destroys sub-populations of T lymphocytes. After a prolonged, clinically silent latent period that can extend for years, the progressive loss of T lymphocytes results in an immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by chronic and recurrent infections. FIV infection is lifelong and eventually fatal. The natural incubation period for FIV averages five years. (Sherding, p. 127)Manifestations include chronic weight loss, opportunistic infections, chronic inflammatory conditions, and increased risk for malignant neoplasia (Sherding, p. 126). Feline immunodeficiency virus is transmitted primarily by aggressive bite wounds, and is present in ...
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...n 50% remained asymptomatic for the 2-year follow-up period (Sherding, p. 131)
To summarize everything up, Clients who own a cat should be aware of what this virus is by being aware of the clinical signs, prevention methods, how to diagnose this virus, treatment methods and the prognosis of this disease.
Sources Cited:
• Birchard, S. J., & Sherding, R. G. (2006). Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Saunders manual of small animal practice (3rd ed., pp. 126-131). St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders Elsevier.
• Greene, C. E. (1998). Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Infectious diseases of the dog and cat (2nd ed., pp. 84-92). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
• Summers, A. (2007). Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Common diseases of companion animals (2nd ed., pp. 233-235). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby.
Ex: Greene (1998) stated…”….” (p. 84)
Statement (Greene, 1998, p. 84)
[1, 4, 5, 9, 13] There have been no documented cases where a human has contracted the disease from another human. [4] It appears, based on field and lab data, that infection requires direct contact with the virus through means such as contact with infective bodily secretions, urine, or tissues. [12] It is unknown to scientists how the virus can be maintained in the bat populations and avoids extinction as the host species becomes immune to its presence. [14] The incubation period from time of infection to the onset of symptoms is about 5-14 days in experimentally induced animals [4] and 8-14 days in natural field cases.
This virus searches for a new vulnerable host in order to survive and carry the disease to the next victim. The critical aspect around the spread of a virus is how drastically the reproduction process occurs. Without being controlled, the contamination throughout any species causes the spread to take place in a toxic way, “On day one, there were two people. And then, four, and then, sixteen. In three months, it’s a billion.
that transmitted the HIV virus to humans through bites (Forsyth). As people migrated it reached Haiti and then spread to America (Clark p. 65).
Feline panleukopenia is endemic to cats worldwide. The virus has been identified since the early 20th century. The virus is so severe that it was referred to as “cat plague” in earlier times when infections worldwide nearly wiped out cat populations in certain geographic areas. Now FPV rarely occurs in domestic populations in which vaccination is routinely practiced. There is a seasonality to the occurrence of FPV that usually coincides with the production of new populations of susceptible kittens. This seasonal effect may vary according to geographic location. In the northeastern United States, most cases of FPV are seen in the summer and early fall. However, outbreaks of FPV may occur at any time of the year. It is thought that feral domestic cat populations are a natural resevior for Feline panleukopenia virus.
Most animals are susceptible to the development of cancer at some stage of their life. Among all types of cancer, squamous cell carcinoma is one of the skin cancer that commonly affects domestic animals. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer caused by neoplasms arising from the squamous epithelium of an animal regardless of species. However, this essay will only focus on this condition among felines since my chosen species is a white cat called Rosie. There are several forms of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma among felines, which are known as solar keratosis and multicentric squamous cell carcinoma in situ, sometimes known as Bowen’s-like disease, but in this case, Rosie is diagnosed with
By searching for the causative agent of infectious disease the focus can then be shifted into discovering preventative and treatment of the disease. Examples of this process are the outbreak of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). As published by McEwen & Wills (2011), BSE was identified as a protein transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated meat. Prevention and interventions were created as a result of the discovery of the protein. Comparably, AIDS, was first identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September of 1982, however, months passed before the causative agent was deemed a retrovirus later to be determined the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Even before the virus was isolated methods of transmission was recognized and interventions were acknowledged (McEwen & Wills, 2011).
When owners take their pets to the clinic, they are understandably anxious about the results and outcome of the visit. While it’s the veterinarian's job to provide care for the animal, it’s also their job to put the owners at ease, reassuring them that their pet will indeed be fine. This communication is vital for building trust, as it lets the owner know what is happening to their animal and gives them confidence in believing that everything will be okay. What’s more, veterinarians that take the time to thoroughly explain procedures and instructions regarding petcare, are teaching pet owners how to better tend to their
Feline Leukemia is a highly contagious retrovirus, and a disease with many causes. It is certainly life-threatening to cats infected with the virus. It is a disease that sadly has no cure. While it is incurable, it is important to focus on the fact that it is a preventable disease. There are many important steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of exposure to the Feline Leukemia Virus. Preventative measures are the best solution to dealing with the threat of Feline Leukemia, and is the only thing guaranteed to increase the safety of cats and prevent the spread of the virus.
however, inoculations of mice with the patient's serum resulted in the isolation of a virus
Chronic HBV is developed when HBV infection dose not result in immunization and is defined as existence of HbsAG in the body for more than six months [1]. Progression from acute HBV to chronic HBV is highly influenced by the age at infection and is a common state for those infected at...
She had stated that her and her husband were jogging one night and came across a stray cat. She said she wasn’t bitten, but the cat did lick her. It is noted that she got the cut from doing yard work earlier in the day but forgot to clean it. She was presented with symptoms such as headache, agitation, insomnia, confusion, excessive salvation, and vomiting. It was noted that she has a medical history of high blood pressure. Vaccine history was noted as up to date. Several tests including samples of saliva, serum, spinal fluid, and skin biopsies of hair follicles at the ankle were conducted to confirm that it was in fact rabies. The patients treatment plan included a series of rabies vaccines given as injections over the course of 14
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a subject within my educational field that I can research and inform the public about. I plan to become a veterinarian .which would require my daily contact with humans and animals. Zoonotic diseases are risk factors that I have to be aware of in order to protect myself as well as my patients and their owners. Luckily developments in medicine have made it possible to cure zoonotic diseases and even prevent them from ever being contracted.
for which no cure has yet been created. It is important to know however, that methods are currently available which can prevent the transfer of this virus, and even slow down its malicious effects. before they become fatal. It is equally important to know how to avoid getting the virus and also the symptoms in case you might run across them. They are all a lot.
"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Program: The Health Benefits of Pets." NIH Consensus Development Program. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.
HIV and Aids are something that have been a major problem in a large part of the world for many years. These viruses have destroyed many families and have taken many people’s lives. There are many different ways for a person to receive the virus. As of today, there is still no cure for these horrible diseases. Until scientists and doctors are able to find a medicine that can cure them, many people will continue to be affected by these diseases. This research paper will break down each virus separately to better explain what they exactly are and how they affect people by their signs, symptoms, etc.