DM2 Pt1-3 Cat Flu (FCV & FHV) Flashcards
What is the general term used for upper respiratory tract infections in cats?
Cat flu is the general term used for upper respiratory tract infections in cats.
What are the two main viral causes of cat flu?
Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Herpesvirus (FHV).
What other pathogens can cause flu-like symptoms in cats besides FCV and FHV?
Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydophila felis.
How is FCV mainly transmitted?
FCV is shed predominantly in oral and nasal secretions during acute disease.
What proportion of cats continue shedding FCV after recovery?
Up to 40% of cats continue shedding FCV after recovery, with a few shedding for several years.
How does FCV evolve quickly, making vaccination challenging?
FCV has a small, single-stranded RNA genome that evolves quickly, constantly changing.
What is acute oral and upper respiratory tract disease associated with FCV?
It mainly affects kittens and causes oral ulceration, sneezing, and serous nasal discharge.
What are the possible complications of FCV in young or sick cats?
Complications include pneumonia, secondary bacterial infections, and death.
What is chronic stomatitis in cats, and how is it related to FCV?
Chronic stomatitis is a proliferative/ulcerative faucitis, possibly an immune reaction to FCV.
What is limping syndrome in relation to FCV?
Limping syndrome is an acute, transient lameness with fever that can follow FCV infection or vaccination.
What characterizes virulent systemic FCV disease?
It is characterized by systemic inflammatory response syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, multiorgan failure, and death.
What is the mortality rate of virulent systemic FCV disease?
Mortality rates can reach up to 67%.
Why is strict hygiene important in practices dealing with FCV outbreaks?
It helps prevent outbreaks of virulent systemic FCV disease.
How can FCV be diagnosed?
FCV can be diagnosed by virus isolation or PCR, using conjunctival, oral, blood, or tissue samples.
What should be considered when interpreting positive PCR results for FCV?
Positive PCR results may reflect low-level shedding by carriers, so they don’t confirm FCV as the cause of disease.
How is virulent systemic FCV disease diagnosed?
It is diagnosed based on clinical signs and isolation of the same strain from the blood of several diseased cats.
How do maternally derived antibodies affect vaccination in kittens?
Maternally derived antibodies protect kittens in early weeks but may interfere with vaccination, and they persist longer than FHV antibodies.
When do virus-neutralizing antibodies typically appear after FCV infection?
They appear about 7 days after infection.
What is crucial for the treatment of severely affected cats with FCV?
Intensive nursing care, supportive therapy, hydration, and ensuring food intake are crucial.
What are the common reasons for reduced food intake in FCV-affected cats?
Pyrexia, oral ulcers, and loss of sense of smell due to nasal congestion reduce food intake.
What can be used to treat fever and oral pain in cats with FCV?
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used once the cat is rehydrated.
How can mucous nasal discharge in FCV-affected cats be treated?
Mucolytic drugs like bromhexine and nebulisation with saline can help combat nasal discharge.
What antiviral drug can be used to treat FCV?
Famciclovir can be used as an antiviral treatment for FCV.
Why might an oesophagostomy tube be used for FCV-affected cats?
It allows feeding and medication administration without touching the cat’s sore face, which is helpful when naso-oesophageal tubes are difficult to place.
What treatments are used for virulent systemic FCV disease?
Intensive supportive therapy, fluid therapy, antibiotics, steroids, and interferon are used, but mortality remains high.
What treatments are recommended for chronic stomatitis in FCV-infected cats?
Treatments include antibiotics, rigorous dental cleaning, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and in some cases, total teeth extraction.
Why is FCV a common problem in shelters?
FCV is common in shelters due to the risk of virus transmission, making virus control measures as important as vaccination.
How should cats be housed in shelters to limit FCV transmission?
Cats should be housed individually unless they come from the same household.
How long can FCV persist in the environment?
FCV can persist in the environment for about 1 month.