European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                New cat virus similar to aids associated press scientists have identified a new virus in cals that gives felines a disease much of aids a discovery they said could signal a threat to the nation s cat population while helping human aids research. Researchers at the University of California. Davis said Iho new cat virus is related to. But genetically different from. Iho virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome in humans. Whilo both viruses belong to the subgroup called  Uherc is no indication the cat virus can infect people they noted. No one who had worked closely with infected animals showed Ary signs of infection by Tho cat virus or t y the human aids virus alter repealed lasting indicating the now virus is not a human disease agent they said. There is no evidence Lor Cal to human or human to cat infection said Niels c. Pedersen professor of veterinary Medicine and to principal scientist involved in studying the virus found in a California cat re Lugo. Although there is preliminary evidence suggesting the new virus May to widespread the researchers said no one yet knows How much of a danger it could pose to the Domestic cat population. If the disease causing potential of the virus in general cat populations is As Greal As it is in the cattery described in this report its clinical importance will be substantial the scientists wrote. In a report published in Iho feb. 13 Issue of the journal science researchers said the new virus is a Lent virus that is distinct from other retroviruses thai can infect cats including feline leukaemia virus feline leukaemia virus causes a diverse number of cancers and diseases including an immune deficiency similar to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome however none of the cats infected Wilh the new virus showed evidence of infection by he leukaemia virus the  said Tho immune disease caused by Iho new virus closely parallels symptoms seen in the human disease with infected cats having swollen Lymph nodes severe weight loss diarrhoea respiratory infections anaemia and numerous parasitic infections. The virus named feline to Lymph Tropic Lent virus or of Tiv also targets the same to Lymphocyte White blood cells that Are infected by the human aids virus variously known As Btlv-3, Lav or his. Destruction of these cells which orchestrate the body s infection fighting immune system leaves victims vulnerable to numerous infections and cancers the scientists said a limited Survey of blood samples seen at the University s veto nary Medicine school has confirmed the existence of the virus in diseased cats from Many different Northern California areas. Or. Richard Olsen professor of virology at Ohio state University and the Developer of the vaccine against feline leukaemia virus said the California findings could Havo major implications for veterinary Medicine and animal diseases. This virus has to be evaluated to see in it is a major feline Pathogen Olsen said in an interview. I doubt that this is a new virus ust one we have not seen  several types of monkeys Are susceptible to in aids like condition when infected with Simian aids viruses and apes can get the disease from the human aids virus. But these animals Are expensive and in Short Supply and scientists have to ration their use since primates Are dim cull to obtain wrote the California researchers the naturally occurring Folvin Ca is May provide a useful Mode or he  the virus came to Light in a Petaluma. Calif., shelter contain amp 42 homeless cats retrieved from veterinary hospitals Homes and pounds. The cats were housed in six open pens and suffered Only Normal mild illnesses during a 14-year period until a female Kitten from san Francisco was introduced to one of the enclosures in 1982, the cat had bouts of diarrhoea and infections for two years and m the third year became thin and anaemic before developing abnormal neurologic behaviour prior to tvs death. In 1985. The Reso archers reported other cats in the same pen developed similar symptoms and 10 died. Of the 15 remaining cats from the pen 13 Are sick and eight have tested pcs five for of Tiv. Only one cat from he of her pens has died since 1982 Page 14 the stars and stripes european nations lat United press International from Britain to Tho Berlin Wall Western Europe is leading the Way in efforts to keep acquired immune deficiency syndrome at Bay governments Are spending Largo sums of Money for campaigns that aim to Ducalo people and to change their sexual habits and drug practices. These campaigns Ragno rom Slick advertisements it the dispensing of clean syringes and Are unlike anything seen in Iho United slates. Tho b