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Did you know that FIV and HIV are surprisingly similar? Explore the viral structure of cat AIDS!
As we explore cat health, the similarities between Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and HIV cannot be ignored. FIV is a slow virus that affects cats worldwide, with an infection rate of approximately 2.5% to 4.4%. The virus was first isolated in 1986, and its impact on cats has been better understood thanks to the work of Niels C Pedersen and Janet K. Yamamoto at the Daniel J. School of Medicine. The virus, originally named feline T-lymphotropic virus, is now also found in domestic cats.
FIV affects the cat's immune system by infecting CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and macrophages, thereby weakening the cat's defenses.
Similar to human HIV, FIV causes infected cats to face a gradual collapse of their immune systems. However, it is worth noting that cats cannot be infected with HIV, and humans cannot be infected with FIV. The main route of transmission of FIV is through deep bite wounds, where saliva from an infected cat enters the body of another cat. Even so, the risk of FIV-positive cats spreading the virus when sharing water and food bowls is relatively low.
Pathological analysis
How FIV affects cats' health deserves further discussion. Viruses enter cells by interacting with receptors on the surface of host cells. Initially, the SU glycoprotein binds to the CD134 receptor, which causes it to change shape and facilitate interaction with the chemokine CXCR4. This interaction promotes the fusion of the virus and cell membranes, transferring the viral RNA into the cytoplasm of the host cell for reverse transcription and integration.
FIV typically remains latent in host cells in an asymptomatic phase, making its presence difficult for the immune system to detect.
Propagation Mechanism
Unlike other feline viruses, FIV is spread through aggressive behaviors such as biting. The study found that male cats were more likely to be infected than females because male cats are generally more territorial and engage in fights more frequently. FIV can be found in wild cats such as African lions, demonstrating the potential for the virus to spread between species.
Stages of illness
Cats infected with FIV go through several stages, including an initial acute phase followed by an asymptomatic period. The acute stage is accompanied by mild symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. This is followed by an asymptomatic period, during which cats may not show obvious symptoms for months or even years. Over time, cats may enter a rapidly deteriorating final stage, the Feline Acquired Immune Deficiency Disease (FAIDS) stage, during which they become extremely vulnerable to opportunistic infections and may eventually die.
Testing and treatment methods
Detecting FIV is simple but challenging. Your veterinarian will usually order a blood test for antibodies based on your cat's medical history and clinical symptoms. However, individual test results must be interpreted with extreme caution because false-positive results may occur in some cases, particularly after kittens have received their mother's milk.
As awareness of FIV increases, many veterinarians and cat protection organizations have unanimously opposed the arbitrary euthanasia of cats infected with FIV.
Vaccine development and challenges
Developing an effective FIV vaccine is challenging because the virus is highly variable and has multiple subtypes. Fel-O-Vax, a dual-subtype vaccine launched in 2002, attempts to immunize against multiple FIV subtypes, but the vaccine performs poorly in protecting against certain variants. Because of this, having a positive result for FIV vaccination would make it more difficult to assess the actual effectiveness of the vaccine.
The structure of FIV
FIV's viral structure is similar to other mammalian lentiviruses, with a diameter of 80 to 100 nanometers. The FIV genome is composed of two identical single-stranded RNAs and has a typical retroviral genome structure, including LTR, vif, pol, gag, orfA, env and rev genes. The combination of these genomes makes FIV more complex in the host's immune system.
Origin and spread of the virus
The exact origin of FIV remains unknown, but research suggests it may have originated in Africa and rapidly evolved as cats spread. Previous studies have revealed a high prevalence of FIV in a variety of feline species, but its diversity and variations in different environments remain to be further explored.
For wild cats, the impact is clear, but the impact of FIV on the overall population remains to be further assessed. This got us thinking about conservation measures: What can we do to protect these precious ecological partners and their health in this fragile ecosystem?
