Exam 2 - Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Question 1

what does ‘acutely infected’ mean?

Answer 1

recently infected cat that may or may not show clinical signs & the long-term outcome is unclear

Question 2

what does ‘recovered’ cat mean in regards to upper respiratory infections?

Answer 2

animal is recovered from clinical signs & may or may not still be contagious to other animals

Question 3

what does ‘carrier’ cat mean in regards to upper respiratory infections?

Answer 3

cat who sheds the infectious agents in absence of clinical signs

Question 4

what is the etiology of feline herpesvirus?

Answer 4

dsDNA enveloped virus that is fragile in the environment & easily disinfected

Question 5

T/F: there is very little strain variation within cats with herpes virus & will affect other cats/felidae

Answer 5

true

Question 6

T/F: once infected with herpes, always infected

Answer 6

true

Question 7

what is the importance of latent carriers in herpes virus?

Answer 7

nearly all cats become latent carriers, so while clinical signs are absent, stress can lead to recurrence of shedding & potential recrudescent disease

Question 8

why can cats get calicivirus more than once?

Answer 8

large number of antigenically varied strains with different virulence among strains

Question 9

what is the etiology of feline calicivirus?

Answer 9

small, unenveloped ssRNA virus that is more durable in the environment than herpes

Question 10

what helps make calicivirus more successful in terms of virulence?

Answer 10

some cats remain lifelong carriers & the chronic carriers will shed more or less constantly often without clinical signs

Question 11

what is the recovery & shedding seen with calicivirus?

Answer 11

after recovery from acute infection - most cats will shed for weeks

over time the proportion of shedders declines

Question 12

T/F: b. bronchiseptica can be both a primary & secondary pathogen in cats

Answer 12

true

Question 13

when do cats shed b. bronchiseptica?

Answer 13

shedding more likely in cats with clinical signs - stressed out animals, & reinfection in the face of underlying viral infection

Question 14

T/F: seroprevalence suggests that up to 50% of cats have recent exposure to b. bronchiseptica & 10% are shedding the pathogen at any given time

Answer 14

true

Question 15

what is the etiology of chlamydophila felis?

Answer 15

primitive bacteria - obligate intracellular, has a cell wall, & lacks essential metabolic pathways

Question 16

what are the 2 forms of chlamydophila felis?

Answer 16

elementary body in the environment

reticulate body in the host cell

Question 17

what is the infectious form of chlamydophila felis?

Answer 17

elementary body in the environment - very resistant

Question 18

what form of chlamydophila felis has no cell wall & replicates by budding/fission?

Answer 18

reticulate body in the host cell

Question 19

how is chlamydophila felis spread?

Answer 19

conjunctival/ocular secretions, gi/genital mucosa in some adults, & kittens may be exposed at parturition or maternal care

close contact, fomites

Question 20

T/F: by age 5, infection with chlamydophila felis is unlikely in cats

Answer 20

true

Question 21

what age animals are typically affected by chlamydophila felis?

Answer 21

young cats - < 1 year

Question 22

what animals are generally affected by feline URIs?

Answer 22

young cats & feral cats

think immunosuppressed

Question 23

what is the typical clinical presentation of cats with a URI?

Answer 23

lethargy, inappetence, sneezing, nasal discharge, fever in most cases, conjunctivitis, & ocular discharge

Question 24

what is associated with the lightening bolt ulcer in cats?

Answer 24

herpes virus - ulcerative keratitis because of direct viral damage

Question 25

what virus has strains that are associated with pneumonia, polyarthritis, & severe systemic disease?

Answer 25

calicivirus

Question 26

what virus may be associated with simultaneous illness in the family dog?

Answer 26

bordetella

Question 27

what organism is strongly associated with conjunctivitis & potential systemic illness?

Answer 27

chlamydophila felis

Question 28

what virus is associated with ulcerated lesions on the tongue in cats?

Answer 28

calicivirus

Question 29

why is serology useless in feline URI?

Answer 29

likely all animals have it, so they will have antibodies present

Question 30

what zoonotic concerns are associated with chlamydophila felis?

Answer 30

c. psittaci is zoonotic c. pneumoniae - possibly linked to coronary artery disease in humans

Question 31

what are components of the supportive & symptomatic care for feline URIs?

Answer 31

clean, warm, dry air is especially important for neonates steam therapy, aromatic foods, plenty of water & rest, & outpatient whenever possible

Question 32

what medications can be given for a cat with an URI?

Answer 32

doxycycline - pre-made elixir that is smoothly mixed to avoid strictures ophthalmic oxytetracycline for suspected c. felis conjunctivitis

Question 33

why may antibiotics be used for cats with URIs?

Answer 33

viral infections can predispose the patient to secondary bacterial infections

Question 34

T/F: topical ocular antivirals may be used for a patient with herpes keratitis

Question 35

what is the goal of non-sterilizing immunity?

Answer 35

vaccination lessens duration, severity, or frequency of clinical signs of disease

Question 36

what vaccines aim for the goal of non-sterilizing immunity?

Answer 36

feline herpesvirus & feline calicivirus

Question 37

T/F: non-sterilizing immunity parallels vaccines against the flu

Answer 37

true

Question 38

as far as prevention goes for cats in shelters, what should be the vaccine protocol for preventing URIs?

Answer 38

vaccinate as many as possible & as early as possible after admission

Question 39

as far as prevention retrovirus-infected cats, what should be the vaccine protocol for preventing URIs?

Answer 39

generally vaccinate with core agents if cats are well & keep them indoors & away from other cats to minimize risks

Question 40

as far as prevention goes for cats with a history of injection site sarcomas, what should be the vaccine protocol for preventing URIs?

Answer 40

discontinue further injectable vaccines

Question 41

what principles make a vaccine core?

Answer 41

all cats are at substantial risk of serious disease an effective vaccine exists zoonotic potential plays a role

Question 42

what vaccines are considered core for cats?

Answer 42

rabies, panleukopenia, herpesvirus, & calicivirus

Question 43

what are the principles of non-core vaccines?

Answer 43

low-level risk for most cats & or mild/moderate disease for most cats select population at risk vaccine issues play a role

Question 44

what vaccines are considered non-core for cats?

Answer 44

FeLV, FIV, bordetella, & chlamydophila felis

Question 45

T/F: feline URTI vaccines reduce severity & duration of clinical signs

Answer 45

true

Question 46

why don't feline URTI vaccines prevent infection?

Answer 46

non-sterilizing immunity is used vaccinates may still shed infectious agents vaccinates may become chronic carriers

Question 47

what is sterilizing immunity?

Answer 47

vaccination completely prevents subsequent infection

Question 48

what are side effects of IN vaccines?

Answer 48

can induce mild clinical signs which may mimic a URTI

Question 49

what vaccine is associated with febrile limping syndrome after it's been given?

Answer 49

calicivirus & c. felis vaccines

Question 50

T/F: injection site sarcomas are possible in cats from any injection

Answer 50

true

Question 51

what is the strongest indication for giving a vaccine for chlamydophila felis?

Answer 51

group setting - cattery, colony, household with documented disease history

Question 52

what products are available for vaccinating against chlamydophila felis?

Answer 52

inactivated adjuvanted & MLV non-adjuvanted

Question 53

what is the goal when vaccinating for chlamydophila felis?

Answer 53

decrease frequency & severity of disease

Question 54

how often should vaccines for chlamydophila felis be boostered?

Answer 54

annually

Question 55

how often should vaccines for calicivirus be boostered?

Answer 55

every 3 years

Question 56

what products are available for vaccinating against calicivirus?

Answer 56

MLV & inactivated products for SQ & IN routes generally effective by 9 weeks

Question 57

when is the final dose of the initial series given when vaccinating against calicivirus?

Answer 57

16-20 weeks old

Question 58

how often should vaccines for herpes be boostered?

Answer 58

every 3 years

Question 59

what products are available for vaccinating against herpesvirus?

Answer 59

MLV & inactivated products for SQ & IN routes generally effective by 9 weeks