Findings in cats naturally infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
In experimental studies, Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) produces hematological changes, neurological disease, neoplasia (most notably lymphoma) and lymphopenia-mediated immunodeficiency predisposing cats to a range of secondary infections. However, clinical signs and survival time in naturally FIV-infected cats have not been assessed.
To learn more, researchers investigated the effect of natural FIV infection on hematological, blood biochemical and urinalysis parameters and survival time in pet cats in Australia.
FIV-infected cats in cohorts 1, 2 and 3 were found to have 15/37 (41%), 13/39 (33%) and 2/13 (15%) clinicopathological parameters significantly different to FIV-uninfected cats.
Two changes seen in cohort 1, hypochromia (low hemoglobin) and hyperglobulinemia should serve as diagnostic triggers for FIV testing.
Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of cats in cohorts 1 and 2 did not find any difference between FIV-infected and FIV-uninfected cats.
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