I would just keep doing whatever you're doing. Having fiv is one of the 'best' things to have if you have to have a health problem and you're a cat. t
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: We have had a kitten since last summer when he was about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks old. He came back possitive FIV. He was tested again when he was about 9 or 10 months old and sad to say, he was still possitive. So I guess he does have FIV. Not sure what to do now. Thanks, Robin P. ---- gary wrote: > OK, here we go. > > The only reason to test a kitten for FIV before 6 months is to obtain a > negative test and know for certain the kitten does NOT have FIV and can be > adopted without the chance of FIV. We all know that MOST kittens who test > positive for FIV will test negative when retested around 6 months of age. > > For FeLV, the accuracy of the test itself is not affected by the age of the > kitten (at least I have never seen any data to indicate that) however, it can > take 1 to 3 months to develop FeLV antigens to a detectable level after > exposure. Some feel they are detectable in as little as 2 weeks. The vet is > just trying to avoid a false negative. > > Unfortunately, there has not been enough study done to know just how much > exposure and for what length of time it takes to infect a kitten or a cat. An > article in Shelter Medicine says, "FeLV can be spread transplacentally from > mother to offspring, but spread via nursing or grooming is more common." > http://www.sheltermedicine.com/portal/is_feline_felv.shtml > > They don't reference any data for that. Sort of leaves you in a tough place > if you have a know FeLV queen about to give birth, do the kittens already > have it, or do you snatch them away as soon as they are born so they don't > get it from milk or grooming? > > Hope that helps. > > Gary > ----- Original Message ----- > From: MaryChristine > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 1:19 PM > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Felv Testing Interval for kittens > > > i guess the question is this, tho i may be wrong: > > there is no point in testing for FIV until at least six months of age, > because both the ELISA and western blot test antibodies, and kittens will > show their MOM'S antibodies until (and often for two or three motnsh beyond) > then. > > is the only reason that the article i just read said you can test for FeLV, > which tests antigens instead of antibodies? why would the vet mentioned above > then say 3 months is the best age? > > > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
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