1.1.2: Infectious respiratory disease - Cat flu Flashcards
What are the causative pathogens of cat flu?
- Feline herpesvirus
- Feline calicivirus
- Chlamydophila felis
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Mycoplasma felis
- And others. However, influenza does not cause cat flu.
What are the clinical signs of feline herpesvirus infection?
- Conjunctivitis, potentially unilateral
- Ocular ulcers
- Damage to nasal bones -> cat flu kittens become chronic snufflers (cat is more prone to infectious disease thereafter)
True/false: feline herpesvirus can be shed without the animal showing signs of disease.
True
* Animals are infected for life with the virus sitting in nerve cells
* They can shed without showing signs of disease
* Recrudescence occurs at times of stress
True/false: feline antivirals have a braod mechanisms of action, with many of them effective against a huge range of pathogens.
False
Antivirals are very specific so work against a given virus but not othera
Examples: L-lysine, inferferon omega, famciclovir
Describe the clinical signs of feline calicivirus infection
- Flu-like
- Tongue ulcers
- “Floppy” kittens = synovitis
What type of virus is feline herpesvirus?
Enveloped DNA virus
What type of virus is feline calicivirus?
- RNA virus (hardy and fast-evolving)
What clinical sign is shown here and what causative agent is it suggestive of?
Tongue ulcers - Feline calicivirus
Describe the relationship between Feline Chronic Gingival Stomatitis and Feline Calicivirus.
What is the treatment and prognosis for FCGS?
- FCGS linked with FCV but causation not eatablished
- FCGS is frustrating to treat: use dental, antibacterials - sometimes warrants a full mouth extraction.
- Can also use corticosterioids, interferon.
True/false: with Feline Calicivirus it is possible to have outbreaks of severe disease where mortality is high and even healthy vaccinated adult cats are affected.
True
* This form of FCV can be virulent and systemic
* There is 50% mortality
* Virus can spread through fomites
* Hospitals have to be shut down when this occurs
What kind of virus is Chlamydophila felis?
It is not a virus. It is an intracellular, bacteria-like organism.
Clinical signs of Chlamydophila felis infection
- Ocular discharge and irritation
- Red and swollen eyelids and conjunctiva
- Sneezing
- Nasal discharge
- Anorexia/inappetenace
True/false: this cat’s presentation is inconsistent with Chlamydophila felis infection because the signs are unilateral.
False
Clinical signs of Chlamydophila felis infection can initially appear unilateral
Which infectious agent might you associated with the clinical signs pictured and why?
Chlamydophila felis
Inflamed, erythematous conjuctiva and eyelids
Treatment of Chlamydophila felis
- Antibiotics: doxycycline at 10mg/kg SID for 4 weeks
- NB: doxycycline can cause oesophageal stricture in cats, but dose above usually well-tolerated
- Treat all-contacts
Of the following infectios agents, which are spread by close contact/poor hygiene, and which are spread by fomites?
* Feline herpesvirus (FHV)
* Chlamydophila felis
* Feline calicivirus (FCV)
- FHV, Chlamydophila felis = close contact/poor hygiene
- FCV = fomites
When might it be important to push for diagnosis of the specific pathogen causing a cat flu outbreak?
Push for diagnosis when it will change management. Consider both the individual and the population.
What samples should you take to identify the causative pathogen in a cat flu outbreak? How should these be transported and what tests will the lab run? What are the limitations of this test?
- Oral/ocular swabs
- Viral transport medium (call the lab first and check)
- Isolation of virus/PCR
- For FHV/C. felis qPCR is best to give you relative numbers of what is present
- Calicivirus may be harder to detect as many different strains
- Absence of herpesvirus on test does not mean the animal does not have it
Treatment for cat flu
Supportive care
* Can be the most important factor - not to be underestimated!
* Fluids
* Specific diets with appropriate calories, high palatability, easy to digest
Symptomatic treatment
* NSAIDs: meloxicam (consider renal impact if dehydrated)
* Nebuliser - steam/sterile saline
* Lubricate eyes e.g. Viscotears
* Appetite stimulants e.g. mirtazepine
Nutritional support
* NG tube - can be placed conscious/with sedation]
* O-tube - requires GA
Describe the specific treatments available for feline herpesvirus (FHV)
- Famciclovir
- L-lysine: herpesvirus likes arginine to multiply and L-lysine interferes with this. Remember that arginine is essential for the cat, though.
Cats who don’t eat or drink can rapidly drop in levels of which electrolyte? What signs might you see associated with this?
- Potassium
- Cat with ventroflexion (dropped head, only lifting eyes, not head, to look at you) is low in potassium until proven otherwise
True/false: FHV is difficult to destroy with common disinfectants.
False
FHV is very labile (transient and unstable) in the environment
Which disinfectants are not effective against FCV?
- FCV is more resistant than other viruses
- Quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g. chlorhexidine, Lysol) are not effective
- Sodium hypochlorite has been proven effective
What core vaccines are there for cats?
- Feline panleukopenia virus/infectious enteritis (Feline Parvovirus)
- Feline Herpesvirus
- Feline Calicivirus
What are some non-core vaccines for cats?
- Chlamydophila felis
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Feline leukaemia virus
- Rabies virus
Which cats are more prone to Feline leukaemia virus?
- Kittens are more prone than older cats
- Outdoor cats are more prone than indoor
True/false: all core cat vaccines must be given annually.
False
* In high risk cats, FHV may be given yearly but feline panleukopaenia (feline parvo) can be given every 3 years
