Re: Need advice - kittens...for Susan
Dear Susan: The fact the kittens tested a faint positive (an ELISA, right?) is probably an indication of exposure and some virus present (both the ELISA and IFA detect anitgen from replicating virus) but may still be an earlier stage of infection so there is a chance with good diet and immune support these kittens can clear the virus. A truly false positive on the ELISA would be for viral antigen to be detected when none was present. What is more likely, given the sensitivity of the ELISA test which can detect even minute amounts of antigen, is that faint positive results indicate an early stage of infection, and that cats/kittens who initially test postive, then later test negative, were able to clear the virus, or, the infection could have become latent. If the other cats in the foster household are healthy adults, I would not be very worried that the kittens may pass the virus to them, but be most concerned that the kittens get the best possible diet and immune support to help their immune system fight off the virus. Any further assaults, be it emotional, environmental or from anything the other cats may bring to the table, to their immune system should be minimized. A negative IFA at this point could confirm an infection has not progressed to the point of no return and there is still a good chance to clear it, but would also represent the significant stress of a blood draw. If one has the resources, a good strategy is to ask the vet or tech to draw enough blood initially so that if the ELISA result is positive, then an IFA can then be run to confim it as either stage 4 or beyond, or still in stage 1-3. My advice would be to transition those kittens to a raw, natural diet (or the best commercial food possible such as Wellness or Innova, etc.) with good immune support supplementation such as Transfer Factor, Vit. C, CoQ10, etc. and try to keep their lives as stress-free as possible, which would include no, or mininal, vaccines. Do keep them indoors and away from any cats who go outdoors that may bring unwanted pathogens to bear. I would then retest them in 45-60 days. Here's hoping... Sally in San Jose
Re: Need advice - kittens
Thanks!Cherie A Gabbert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I would say test two or three more times, each test at 90 days"Gloria B. Lane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Susan asked me to forward her message to the list. Here also are my comments on it - can anybody offer suggestions please? Thanks - GloriaFrom: "Gloria B. Lane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>H - I don't know -I think if they test positive, they have the virus ( antigen). At this point, their little immune systems can 1) kick the virus, or 2) remain infected with the virus. Since it's a light positive, I'd be really optimistic. But then I'm optimistic anyhow...Just thinking - but I've never heard of kittens getting low dose interferon, and don't know what that would do. - GloriaAt 1:39 PM -0700 5/31/05, Susan Loesch wrote:Don't know why my email to the list is bouncing back!Just got back a very very light positive test on 2 12-week old kittens. Through some "wire-crossing" in our group, the kittens are already in a foster home. Thefamily has one 11 or 12 year old cat who has nothing to do with thekittens. Based on your experience with positive kittens eventuallytesting negative what do you think the likelihood is that this could beeither a false positive (both kitts are super healthy) or that ifpositive they will kick it? Or is it even possible to make an educated guess. If the kittens can be separated from close contact with their currentcat I'd like them to stay in the home -- it is a potential adoptivehome. But I want to be able to make a better guess about the odds!! Thanks, all. Have a purrfect day Cherie
Need advice - kittens
Susan asked me to forward her message to the list. Here also are my comments on it - can anybody offer suggestions please? Thanks - Gloria From: Gloria B. Lane [EMAIL PROTECTED] H - I don't know - I think if they test positive, they have the virus ( antigen). At this point, their little immune systems can 1) kick the virus, or 2) remain infected with the virus. Since it's a light positive, I'd be really optimistic. But then I'm optimistic anyhow... Just thinking - but I've never heard of kittens getting low dose interferon, and don't know what that would do. - Gloria At 1:39 PM -0700 5/31/05, Susan Loesch wrote: Don't know why my email to the list is bouncing back! Just got back a very very light positive test on 2 12-week old kittens. Through some wire-crossing in our group, the kittens are already in a foster home. The family has one 11 or 12 year old cat who has nothing to do with the kittens. Based on your experience with positive kittens eventually testing negative what do you think the likelihood is that this could be either a false positive (both kitts are super healthy) or that if positive they will kick it? Or is it even possible to make an educated guess. If the kittens can be separated from close contact with their current cat I'd like them to stay in the home -- it is a potential adoptive home. But I want to be able to make a better guess about the odds!! Thanks, all.
Re: Need advice - kittens
I would say test two or three more times, each test at 90 days"Gloria B. Lane" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Susan asked me to forward her message to the list. Here also are my comments on it - can anybody offer suggestions please? Thanks - GloriaFrom: "Gloria B. Lane" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>H - I don't know -I think if they test positive, they have the virus ( antigen). At this point, their little immune systems can 1) kick the virus, or 2) remain infected with the virus. Since it's a light positive, I'd be really optimistic. But then I'm optimistic anyhow...Just thinking - but I've never heard of kittens getting low dose interferon, and don't know what that would do. - GloriaAt 1:39 PM -0700 5/31/05, Susan Loesch wrote:Don't know why my email to the list is bouncing back!Just got back a very very light positive test on 2 12-week old kittens. Through some "wire-crossing" in our group, the kittens are already in a foster home. Thefamily has one 11 or 12 year old cat who has nothing to do with thekittens. Based on your experience with positive kittens eventuallytesting negative what do you think the likelihood is that this could beeither a false positive (both kitts are super healthy) or that ifpositive they will kick it? Or is it even possible to make an educated guess. If the kittens can be separated from close contact with their currentcat I'd like them to stay in the home -- it is a potential adoptivehome. But I want to be able to make a better guess about the odds!! Thanks, all.Have a purrfect day Cherie
