Calciviridae

Question 1

Describe caliciviruses.

Answer 1

-name comes from Latin word for calix or cup
>32 cup shaped surface depressions

Question 2

Describe feline calicivirus (FCV).

Answer 2

-inf pathogen of cats
-belongs to genus Vesivirus, family Caliciviridae
-genetically diverse, FCV associated w range of clinical syndromes
-clinical syndrome = inapparent inf to mild or acute oral & URT dz in cats
-strains induce lameness = limping syndrome
-highly virulent forms of virus (FCV-VSD) emerged in USA & associated w systemic inf = fatal

Question 3

Describe feline calicivirus outbreaks.

Answer 3

-last decade = severe form of FCV dz (FCV associated virulent systemic dz FCV-VSD) w high mortality rates in cats
-in all reported outbreaks vacc cats affected -> current vacc may not protect against FCV-VSD dz
-clinic pathological features of FCV-VSD differ from the classical FCV dz

Question 4

Describe FCV vaccines.

Answer 4

-most FCV vaccines are in combo w FHV (divalent vacc) or w more additional antigens
-modified live & inactivated parenteral vacc
>modified live intranasal vacc discontinued in Europe but still in US
-early vacc for kittens from queens that have inf litters prev
-all healthy cats vacc against FCV
-cats recovered from calciviral dz prob not protected for life against dz caused by diff strains but vacc still rec

Question 5

Describe vesicular exanthema of swine (VES).

Answer 5

-acute, highly inf viral dz
-fever & formation of vesicles on snout, oral mucosa, soles of the feet, coronary band, between the toes
-pigs = clinical dz indistinguishable from foot & mouth dz, vesicular stomatitis & swine vesicular dz
>chance of secondary bacterial inf
-transmission = direct contact w inf animals & ingestion of raw garbage containing inf pork scrap
-USA declared free of VES