The percentage of cats in Taiwan infected with a feline immune virus that can eventually develop into feline AIDS has grown over the past decade, a professor at Taiwan National University's Department of Veterinary Medicine said yesterday.
"Around 9 percent of cats in northern Taiwan are carriers of the feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV] according to the most recent data available," said Kuo Tzong-fu (
Taiwan began research on FIV in 1990 and found that 2.7 percent of cats tested FIV positive. That number grew to 8.9 percent in 1996 and should now be slightly higher, Kuo said.
Like AIDS, the feline version of the disease attacks the immune system, weakening the body and making it susceptible to a variety of other illnesses.
"The most typical symptoms for cats with FIV are skin ailments and gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gum," Kuo said.
In addition, the cat may have swollen lymph nodes and appear very depressed, he said.
Tomcats are more likely to acquire the virus since they are more territorial and will protect their sphere, Kuo said.
"Male cats may fight any other cat infiltrating their domain," Kuo said. "FIV is mostly passed on through bite wounds."
Young cats may also get infected through milk or saliva during suckling and grooming, research suggested.
However, the syndrome cannot be transmitted to humans or mammals other than cats.
Scientists knew about the existence of FIV since the 1960s, but it wasn't until 1986 when the virus was first isolated in the US, Kuo said.
Currently, there is no known cure or vaccination against FIV.
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