Cat Flu and Vaccinations Flashcards
What are the most common etiologic agents causing cat flu?
- Feline Herpes Virus
- Feline Calicivirus
(Less commonly Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Bordetella, FCoV)
What are the common manifestations of feline calicivirus?
- URT disease
- Oral vesicular ulcers (tongue ulcers)
- Fever
- Lameness / Limping (IMPA)
- Fading kittens
What are the common manifestations of FHV-1?
- URT disease
- Keratitis (Corneal ulcerations, uveitis)
- Conjunctivitis
- Ulcerative crusting dermatitis
- Abortions
- Neonatal disease
What cats are more at risk for Bordetella?
- Cat rescue facilities
- Contact with dogs that have it
- Increase # of cats in the house
(Can act as a primary respiratory pathogen or more commonly secondary to viral respiratory disease, look for underlying cause)
How is calicivirus spread?
- Aerosols (most common)
- Direct contact
- Fomites
How long to cats with calicivirus shed the virus?
- 100% shed at 30 days
- 50% shed at 75 days
- 25% are carriers
How long does calicivirus survive in the environment?
- 8 to 28 days
How long do cats with Herpes shed the virus?
- From day 1, for 1-4 weeks
What percent of cats with herpes become carriers?
80% !
(latent in the trigeminal ganglion)
What triggers spontaneous reactivation of herpes virus in cats?
Any stressful situation!!
What tests can be ran to diagnose Calicivirus or Herpes virus?
- If CS: do Virus isolation and culture to ID active shedding ✯
- If no CS OR screening: do PCR ✯
What is the recommended treatment protocol for a cat with herpesvirus?
- Famcyclovir
- +/- L lysine at high dose
Which of the following survives for long periods in the environment?
A. Feline herpesvirus
B. Bordetella in cats
C. Feline Calicivirus
D. All of the above
C. Feline Calicivirus (RNA virus resistant to degradation)
How can Chlamydophila be diagnosed in cats?
- PCR from Corneal, oropharyngeal, or nasal swabs
- Will see Intranuclear inclusion bodies
What cats are more at risk for getting Chlamydophila infection?
- Breeding facilities
- Show cats
How does Mycoplasma in cats behave?
- Always pathogenic in LRT
- Can be commensal or pathogenic in URT
What is the treatment protocol for a patient with calicivirus?
- No good anti-viral, Interferon immunotherapy used (expensive) + supportive care (feeding tube, fluids, nebulization)
What is the treatment protocol for cats with a bacterial URT infection?
- Broad spectrum Amoxi-Clav
- Doxycycline, oxytetracycline, fluoroquinolones, or Azithromycin for Bordetella, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma