INTERSTITIAL LUNG-DISEASE IN FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV) INFECTED CATS

Postmortem bronchoalveolar lavage of feline immunodeficiency virus-inf ected cats indicated an alveolitis process, and histological examinati on of their lungs confirmed the occurrence of alveolitis, parenchymato us lymphoplasmocytic infiltration and myomatosis. Similar lymphoid int erstitial pneumonitis has been described in human and animal lentivira l diseases: lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis in Hrv-l-infected hum an beings, and maedi in sheep infected by the maedi-visna virus. Such lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis may thus be a common feature of lent iviral infections.