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Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
The new vaccine
In March 2002 a vaccine against FIV was approved for commercial use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was developed by Dr. Janet Yamamoto, co-discoverer in 1986 of the feline immunodeficiency virus and professor at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. It is marketed by Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Wyeth pharmaceuticals.
FIV has been called 'cat AIDS', and attacks the feline immune system in much the same way as HIV does the human. The success of this vaccine is not only vital to cat lovers but is also expected to help with future HIV research.
This is an important development, but not all voices are enthusiastic. Some breeders worry about the fact that once a cat is vaccinated, it will test 'positive' for the disease. This leads to concern about cats who go out or who may escape and wind up in a refuge where, after being routinely blood tested, they are euthanized when found to be FIV positive.
This argument has also been levelled against the FIP vaccine, and it is hoped that antigen specific tests will be developed for both viruses.
My French vet tells me the FIV vaccine is not yet available in Europe.
However, an interferon treatment has been introduced by the Virbac laboratory against FeLV (feline leukemia, leucose) and calicivirus. It is also being tested on cats with FIV, and researchers are hopeful that interferon will aid in the treatment of tumors and other problems of the immune system.
Online reading:
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/path/facult
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/pr/ne_story...
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Last modified on 18 February 2004