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SNAP Feline Triple Test

The SNAP Feline Triple Test, created by IDEXX Labaratories, can diagnose the following three feline diseases:

• Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), known as the “fighting cat disease,” is transmitted primarily through bite wounds.

• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), known as the “friendly cat disease,” is typically spread through prolonged casual contact.

• Feline heartworm is transmitted through infected mosquitoes and found in both indoor and outdoor cats wherever heartworm infection is found in dogs.

How It Works

The SNAP Feline Triple Test is used by veterinarians to detect the three diseases listed above. A blood sample is drawn from a cat, then mixed with a conjugate provided in the test kit. After 10 minutes, one of eight possible blue dot patterns appear indicating which diseases (if any) for which the animal has tested positive. The test detects the antibody present for FIV and the antigens present for FeLV and feline heartworm.

The test was designed to diagnose cats for these widespread diseases quickly and without having to send samples to another lab for analysis.

Relevant Links

• IDEXX Web site
• Veterinary Organizations
• American Association of Feline Practitioners
• KittyTest.com, a site that tests an area's prevalence for the three diseases the SNAP test detects

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Other diseases

• Cerebellar hypoplasia is a disorder found in cats and dogs in which the cerebellum is not completely mature at birth. Cerebellar hypoplasia causes jerky movements, tremors and generally uncoordinated motion. The animal often falls down and has trouble walking. Tremors increase when the animal is excited and subside when at ease.
• A corneal ulcer is an inflammatory condition of the cornea involving loss of its outer layer. It is very common in dogs and is sometimes seen in cats.
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Epilepsy in cats is rare likely because there is no hereditary component to epilepsy in cats.
• Feline asthma
• Feline Hepatic Lipidosis also known as Feline Fatty Liver Syndrome, is one of the most common forms of liver disease of cats. The disease begins when the cat stops eating from a loss of appetite, forcing the liver to convert body fat into usable energy.
• Feline lower urinary tract disease is a term that is used to cover many problems of the feline urinary tract, including stones and cystitis. The term feline urologic syndrome is an older term which is still sometimes used for this condition. It is a common disease in adult cats, though it can strike in young cats too. It may present as any of a variety of urinary tract problems, and can lead to a complete blockage of the urinary system, which if left untreated is fatal.
• Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion
• Feline spongiform encephalopathy
• Polyneuropathy
• Pyometra

Detection and Disease Prevalence

Feline diseases such as FeLV, FIV, and feline heartworm can be detected during a routine visit to a veterinarian. A variety of tests exist that can detect feline illnesses, and with early detection most diseases can be treated effectively.

KittyTest.com is a Web site that provides prevalence rates for several cat diseases in various areas of the United States. Based on this prevalence, cat owners can determine how often their cat should be screened for various illnesses.