Finally, a Treatment for FIV/Feline AIDS May be in the Works!
Feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as FIV is very similar to the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Both cause a disease called AIDS. Neither virus is highly contagious. There is no proven vaccine for either disease (a vaccine for FIV exists, but experts do not agree that it is effective). Both viruses damage the immune systems of affected individuals, leading to increased rates of opportunistic infections and certain types of cancer. Untreated, both viruses lead to death several years after infection.
HIV patients, thank goodness, may benefit from anti-viral therapies that can stop the virus from reproducing and prevent the development of AIDS. These therapies have saved the lives of millions of people who have access to them (sadly, other millions of infected individuals do not).
Cats, however, do not tolerate some of the anti-viral therapies that have helped so many people. Other anti-viral therapies do not inhibit FIV. Therefore, there is no effective treatment for feline AIDS.
But that may change in the future. The North American Veterinary Conference’s May, 2008 Clinician’s Brief details a study (original paper: Savarino, Pistello, D’Ostillo, et al. Retrovirology 4:79, 2007) that describes a new class of anti-viral drugs.
The drugs, called INSTIs, inhibit FIV grown in cultures.
This is an important step forward, but it is a long way from an effective treatment for feline AIDS. The drugs have yet to be tested on infected cats.
Meanwhile, cats with AIDS must live without effective treatment.
FIV is transmitted mainly by fighting. The most effective way to prevent the disease is to keep cats inside. FIV cannot spread to humans, and cats cannot catch HIV.
You have questions. 
Is there any way to participate in the testing of a new FIV drug? We adopted a 3 year old cat a year ago and he, as of today, is positive for FIV. We were told that he may be showing a positive result from a previous FIV vaccination but we do not know if he has been vaccinated.
[...] comment on the recent post about a potential treatment for FIV/Feline AIDS caught my eye. Here is the comment. S Bridges [...]
My website has many options to treat FIV. “Feline AIDS FIV” There is no conventional treatment like HIV only because the money is not available for such things. HIV drugs are both toxic and have resistence problems, so are not recommanded. Such things as licorice root, Green Tea, Lactoferrin inhibit FIV virus. They are just not approved by the FDA and would cost millions to go via FDA testing process. Only large drug companies can afford such things and they are not about to spend this money on felines. So there will never be accepted treatment for FIV.
I should mention that HIV drugs are only effective against activated T-cells and have no effect against Dendritic and Macrophages cells. These cells also produce HIV replication.
I have worked with pet owners on the use of HIV drugs for treating FIV using a combination of three drugs. But this is costly and not very effective. As HIV drugs on humans have the same problems as feline. Using herbs you do not have resistence or toxic problems and cost less, so it makes not sense to us HIV drugs except in rare case.
Hi,
I have just recently found out a stray cat who now lives with me ( has all immunizations) is infected with feline aids. The vet feels he is about 2-2.5 years old. I am wondering if there are any special foods that I should be giving him or any vitamin supplements that may help the situation. Thank you so much.
I have a q, I have two cats. One of them is positive for FIV. I just found out yesterday. I was wondering if it is alright to keep them together. They’ve never really been apart (since birth). So one really looks for the other. They dont fight but when they play they do those playful bites to each other. So is it safe that they are kept together? or must they be kept apart?
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