Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

Test codes:

S0106 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of feline immunodeficiency virus by reverse transcription coupled real time polymerase chain reaction.

S0117 - QUANTITATIVE detection of feline immunodeficiency virus by 1-step reverse transcription coupled real time PCR. Assay detects and quantitates copies per ml of FIV RNA present in plasma from EDTA whole blood.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an RNA lentivirus that can weaken the immune response of cats, similar to what human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does to humans. The virus can infect both domestic cats and wild cats such as cheetahs and lions. It attacks and weakens the body’s immune system, making the animal susceptible to infections and diseases that usually do not affect healthy cats. There is no cure for FIV. Though eventually fatal, an FIV-positive cat can live and infect other cats for many years without any sign of illness.

FIV occurs worldwide, but its prevalence varies geographically. About 1.5% to 3% of domestic cats in the United States are infected with FIV. About 5% of FIV-positive cats also have feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

There are a number of risk factors for FIV infection. Older cats are more likely to be infected -- the average age of cats with FIV is 5 years at the time of diagnosis. Free-roaming cats are more likely to be infected than indoor cats. Aggressive male cats that roam and fight with other cats are more likely to be infected than females and nonaggressive males because FIV is a bloodborne pathogen. Sick cats are much more likely to have FIV -- in the United States about 15% of cats that show clinical signs of another disease are also infected with FIV.

Serology has been used to diagnose FIV-infected cats. However, cats with weakened immune response will not be reliably detected by serology, as that method depends on the cat’s production of antibodies. Molecular detection by PCR overcomes this immune response problem, as it directly detects the pathogen itself rather than the cat’s immune response. PCR is also rapid, highly sensitive and specific.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of feline immunodeficiency virus infection
• Help ensure that feline groups are free of FIV
• Early prevention of spread of FIV between cats by identifying latent carriers
• Minimize human exposure to FIV
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from susceptible animals

Specimen requirement:
S0106 - 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube.
S0117 - 0.2 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) tube, or 0.2 ml plasma.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodologies:
S0106 - Qualitative reverse transcription coupled real time PCR
S0117 - Quantitative 1-step reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected