Don't believe everything you hear about feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
Myth #1: The FIV test is reliable.
Fact: 20% of “positive results” are test errors. The error rate for kittens is even higher. Thousands of cats and kittens are killed daily because of test errors.
Myth #2: The FIV test shows the existence of the FIV virus.
Fact: It measures nothing but antibodies, microscopic organisms that fight the virus.
Myth #: Kittens that test positive for FIV will always test positive for FIV.
Fact: “…infected mothers rarely, if ever, pass the infection to their kittens,” according to Dr. Niels C. Peterson, the first to isolate FIV in 1986 and Director, Center for Companion Animal Health, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
"Kittens born to FIV positive
mothers are at low risk for infection, although they may initially test
positive due to the presence of maternal antibodies.”
“Kittens should be re-tested at 6
to 8 month as most will then test negative because the maternal antibodies will
have seroreverted.”
-- Korel Shelter Medicine Program,
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine.
Source: FIV Cat Rescue, Fort
Bragg, CA
