Feline/Canine Disease Highlights

Question 1

(Feline)

Most significant feline infectious diseases in shelters?

Answer 1

• Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD)
• Panleukopenia (feline parvo)
• Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)

*Others:
FeLV (Feline Leukemia)
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)

Question 2

(Feline)

Name the five primary infectious diseases that cause URI.

Answer 2

1) Feline herpes virus-1
2) Feline calicivirus
3) Chlamydophila felis
4) Bordetella bronchiseptics
5) Mycoplasma

Question 3

(Feline)

Describe Feline herpes (FHV-1)

Answer 3

Highlights:

• Agent? Feline herpes virus-1
• Signs? sneezing, nasal/ocular discharge
• Transmission? direct/fomite
• Shedding? 80-100% latent carriers–stress= shed

Question 4

What is a good indicator of how well a shelter is doing at maintaining a low-stress environment?

Answer 4

• number emerging viruses (URI)

- healthy animals turning sick on intake

Question 5

(Feline)

Describe Calicivirus.

Answer 5

Highlights:

• severe, straight to isolation
• Agent? non-enveloped RNA virus
• Clinical signs? oral ulcerations
• Transmission? direct/fomite
• Shedding? 30 d-lifetime
• Mortality/Morbidity? 33-50% w/virulent strain

Question 6

Why is it difficult to kill a non-enveloped virus?

Answer 6

Most disinfectants are made to target the envelope of a virus
*Sanitation must target UNenveloped viruses

Question 7

(Feline)

Describe Chlamydophila.

Answer 7

Highlights:

• Agent? Chalmydophila felis
• Clinical signs? conjunctivitis primarily (unilateral)
• Transmission? direct/fomite; poor survival o/s host & shed in repro tract (infects kittens)
• Shedding? persist/reoccur for months

Question 8

(Feline)

Describe Bordetella.

Answer 8

Highlights:

• Agent? Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Susceptible? dogs/cats/rabbits/horses/rodents/pigs
• Zoonosis? rare
• Signs? oculonasal discharge/sneezing/fever/lethargy–pneumonia kittens
• Transmission? direct/fomite/fluids
• Shedding? not enough to pass on

Question 9

(Feline)

Describe Panleukopenia.

Answer 9

Highlights:

• Feline distemper
• Agent? non-enveloped ss DNA parvovirus
• Signs? febrile/depression/v/d/death
• Transmission? fecal-oral/direct/fomite
• highly contagious
• Shedding? up to 6 wks.
• Vaccine? excellent efficacy

Question 10

(Feline)

Describe Dermatophytosis.

Answer 10

Highlights:
*Ringworm
-Agent: Microsporum canis
(test question!)
-Zoonotic? YES
-Transmission? spores on hair (very resistant- can persist >1 yr.)
-Diagnosis? wood lamp (detect on intake?), fungal culture, KOH direct smear

Question 11

(Feline)

Describe Feline Leukemia (FeLV).

Answer 11

Highlights:

• Agent? enveloped RNA retrovirus (infects cell & inserts its own genome to be copied)
• Signs? kitten fading syndrome, chronic inflamm., neoplasia (ab. growth of tissue), secondary infections
• Transmission? mostly saliva/milk
• Carrier state? viremic but appear healthy

Question 12

(Feline)

Describe Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

Answer 12

Highlights:

• Agent? enveloped RNA virus
• Signs? chronic inflamm. conditions (stomatitis/neoplasia), secondary infections
• Transmission? not highly contagious–mostly saliva/genital fluids
• Diagnosis? can’t distinguish infection from vaccination & false positives under 6 mo.
• Carrier state? viremic but appear healthy

Question 13

(Canine)

What are the most significant diseases in a shelter environment?

Answer 13

• Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC)
• Canine Adenovirus
• Canine Parvovirus
• Canine Distemper Virus
• Canine Influenza
• Rabies

Question 14

(Canine)

Describe Kennel Cough.

Answer 14

Highlights:

• CIRDC
• Agent? viral, bacterial or both
• Diagnosis? varies by agent
• Signs? mucoid nasal/ocular discharge, “honking” cough, bronchopneumonia if severe
• Prevention? vx

Question 15

(Canine)

Describe Adenovirus.

Answer 15

Highlights:

• ds DNA virus (adenoviridae)
• Transmission? aerosol droplets
• Diagnosis? Canine Respiratory PCR
• Signs? asymptomatic to severe
• Prevention? vx

Question 16

(Canine)

Describe Parvovirus.

Answer 16

Highlights:
-ss non-enveloped DNA virus
-CPV1+2
-Transmission?
Direct: fecal-oral
Indirect: fomite infected w/feces
-Most susceptible? puppies (6 wks-6 mos.)
-Diagnosis? ELISA snap detects antigen in feces
-Signs? commonly gastroenteritis, acute myocarditis (inflamm. heart muscle)- fetal pups, bone marrow suppression
-Prevention? vx

Question 17

(Canine)

What disinfectant works for Parvo?

Answer 17

• RESCUE or EXCEL (accelerated H2O2)- one step processes

- Bleach required prior cleaning- feces counteract

Question 18

(Canine)

Describe Distemper.

Answer 18

Highlights:
-enveloped RNA virus
-Transmission? Aerosol
-Susceptibility? 3-6 mos. (coincides w/decline maternal antibodies)
-Diagnosis? PCR usually- ELISA= false pos.
-Signs? biphasic
1) fever/lethargy/anorexia
2) asymptomatic to severe
URI/GI upset/neurologic
-Treatment? supportive care or humane euth. (severe or isolation not possible)
-Prevention? vx on intake

Question 19

(Canine)

Describe Canine Influenza.

Answer 19

Highlights:

• enveloped RNA virus
• H3N2 & H3N8
• Transmission? aerosol droplets
• Signs? none-severe
• asymptomatic can infect
• peracute= suppurative or hemorrhagic anemia= fatal
• Prevention? vx not widely used-target outbreaks instead

Question 20

(Canine)

Describe Rabies.

Answer 20

Highlights:
-enveloped RNA virus
(rhabdovirus family, Lyssavirus genus)
-Transmission? direct contact broken skin/infected saliva
*only transmitted during active infection
-Diagnosis? post-mortem fluorescent antibody test
-Signs? non-specific & progress to neurologic
-Treatment? 100% fatal
-Prevention? vx @ time spay/neuter/adoption, NOT intake (less likely to spread in shelter env.)
**If your pet isn’t vaccinated, victim can demand rabies check= euthanasia