These animals are most likely to be affected by HIV AIDS; dogs and cats show symptoms like….

After an initial infection, some cats may appear healthy for several years.

Written by: Tahir Qureshi Edited by: Tahir Qureshi

Published: April 28, 2025, 6:29 PM IST

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HIV AIDS in animals: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection was first identified in Central Africa. Here, the virus initially spread among chimpanzees. While chimpanzees are the only animals reliably infected with HIV, other animals like gibbons, mice, rabbits, baboons, and rhesus monkeys have been shown to be infected under certain conditions, but they haven’t developed the disease. Important animal models for HIV research include great apes, Asian monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and infections of ungulates and cats with HIV-related lentiviruses.

From chimpanzees, this virus spread to humans. In the late 18th century, HIV began to spread from chimpanzees to humans. The virus found in chimpanzees of the same species is called Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). It is said that when humans hunted chimpanzees for food, they came into contact with the blood of infected chimpanzees, which is how the virus spread to humans.

In cats, this virus is referred to as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), which is similar to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Its symptoms vary. After an initial infection, some cats may appear healthy for several years. Later, this virus begins to weaken the nervous system.

FIV is primarily transmitted through biting from infected cats. Its symptoms include fever, weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, inflammation of the gums and mouth. Other symptoms are chronic or recurrent infections in the eyes, skin, upper respiratory tract, or bladder. Some cats may experience neurological disorders like seizures or behavioural changes.