Very often, diseases that affect people are observed in pets. As a rule, these diseases are not transmitted from the animal to the host and vice versa, but the disease process is almost the same for all. Among such diseases, one can distinguish immunodeficiency in cats. The disease is similar to the most dangerous HIV virus, the last stage of which sounds like AIDS.
Viral immunodeficiency of cats (abbreviation VIC) is called "lentivirus FIV" and affects the nervous and immune system. The virus is characterized by gradual development, high latency and polymorphism of manifestations.
The disease was first discovered in 1987 in a group of animals contained in the California nursery of the city of Pataluma. Then the virus of immunodeficiency of cats was found in Great Britain and other European countries. Today, the infection is seen in cats all over the world.
Symptoms of immunodeficiency in cats
Once in the blood, the virus moves with the lymph to the lymph nodes, where its development begins. After a couple of weeks, the owner discovers that the lymph nodes of the animal have grown a little, but most owners do not pay attention to it: the cat looks healthy, eats well, is active as before.
After the end of the incubation period (4-6 weeks), the disease worsens, and the cat exhibits the following symptoms:
- increase in temperature (up to 40 degrees);
- defeat of the mucous gums and mouth;
- diarrhea;
- loss of appetite;
- inflammation of the urinary tract;
- fever.
Sometimes the acute stage of the disease is replaced by a latent period, which lasts from one month to three years. After the latent period, the manifestations of the immunodeficiency syndrome increase gradually.
Immunodeficiency of cats - treatment
The diagnosis is confirmed if a decrease in the level of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and leukocytes is detected in the blood of the animal. It happens that the veterinarian does not remember the fact of the existence of VIC and diagnoses an infection or some kind of virus. To reliably identify the infection, it is required to pass an expensive analysis for the determination of antibodies, which is not performed in each clinic.
Hearing the final verdict, many owners panic: "Is it dangerous? Is the human immunodeficiency of cats? It can be cured? "Despite the fact that the causative agents of HIV and VIC are similar viruses, however they can survive only in the human or animal body, respectively. However, in both cases the disease is not curable. The only thing that can be done is to eliminate the individual symptoms and increase the immunity in the cat. In the treatment regimen may include immunoglobulin, measles or anti-influenza, antibiotics, vitamins . It is important to keep the pet in sterility and protect it from diseases that will undermine the already weak immunity.