Clinical Findings and Survival in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. (4th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liem, B.P.; Dhand, N.K.; Pepper, A.E; Barrs, V.R.; Beatty, J.A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 27:Number 4(2013:Jul./Aug.)
• Page Start: 798
• Page End: 805
• Publication Date: 2013-06-04
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim12120-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The clinical course and outcome of natural feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection are variable and incompletely understood. Assigning clinical relevance to FIV infection in individual cats represents a considerable clinical challenge<italic><bold>.</bold></italic></p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To compare signalment, hematologic and biochemical data, major clinical problem, and survival among client‐owned, FIV‐infected, and uninfected domestic cats<italic><bold>.</bold></italic></p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Client‐owned, domestic cats tested for FIV (n = 520).</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Retrospective, case control study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for FIV infection and to compare hematologic and biochemical data between cases and controls, after adjusting for potential confounders. Survival times were compared using Kaplan–Meier curves<bold>.</bold></p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The prevalence of FIV infection was 14.6%. Mixed breed, male sex, and older age were risk factors for FIV infection. Hematologic abnormalities, biochemical abnormalities or both were common in both FIV‐infected and uninfected cats. Lymphoid malignancies were slightly more common in FIV‐infected than uninfected cats. Survival of FIV‐infected cats was not significantly different from that of uninfected cats.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12120-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</title> <p>Multiple hematologic and biochemical abnormalities are common in old, sick cats regardless of their FIV status. Their presence should not be assumed to indicate clinical progression of FIV infection. A negative effect of FIV on survival was not apparent in this study.</p> </sec> </abstract>