Feline Infectious Diseases Flashcards
what diseases are part of the feline respiratory disease complex?
rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, mycoplasma
what are common clinical signs of diseases in the feline respiratory disease complex?
rhinitis, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, salivation, and oral ulceration
rhinotracheitis
nose and trachea inflammation
what family does rhinotracheitis belong to?
herpes virus
which cats are more at risk for rhinotracheitis?
cats that co-mingle, kittens, elder cats, multiple cat households, unvaccinated cats, outdoor cats
what is the incubation period for feline diseases?
2-5 days
what are the clinical signs of rhinotracheitis?
fevers (up to 106) that come and go, sneezing, ocular discharge, blepharospasm, anorexia, conjunctivitis, nose and corneal ulcerations, reproductive tract may be affected too
how is rhinotracheitis transmitted?
direct contact, aerosolized droplets, fomites
how is rhinotracheitis diagnosed?
PCR test: conjunctival scraping and nose, ocular, or oropharyngeal cultures
how is rhinotracheitis treated?
antiviral drugs (but expensive so usually not used), supplements like L-lysine (amino acid that prevents viral replication), antibiotics, topical eye meds for ulcers and keratoconjunctivis sicca, fluids therapy if needed
what nursing care is done for patients with rhinotracheitis?
keep nose clean (cats don’t eat if they can’t smell), steamy bathroom for 10-15 minutes/day, can feed warm food to bring out odor
can cats with rhinotracheitis become latent carriers?
yes even after clinical signs resolve, the cat can still be a latent carrier and transmit the disease to other cats, the virus can also reactivate and cause flare ups at any time especially when cat is stressed
what cats are most susceptible to calicivirus?
kittens and shelter cats
what are the clinical signs of calicivirus?
oral and nasal ulcers!!, high fever, edema of legs/face, depression, jaundice, stomatitis, diarrhea
how is calicivirus transmitted?
direct contact, aerosolized, shed in urine/feces, fomites (can survive up to 1 week in environment)
how is calicivirus diagnosed?
mostly by clinical signs especially with presentation of ulcers, PCR test available but expensive
what is the treatment for calicivirus?
antibiotics, supportive care, most cases can be managed at home, anti-inflammatory meds for lameness
which feline diseases are bacterial?
chlamydia and mycoplasma
what are the clinical signs of chlamydia?
conjunctivitis, severe chemosis, ocular discharge, rhinitis, URI symptoms, bronchitis
how is chlamydia transmitted?
contact with secretions
how is chlamydia diagnosed?
conjunctival scraping
how is chlamydia treated?
tetracyclines
how can chlamydia be prevented?
vaccination and clean the environment (doesn’t live long outside host), isolate cat
what is another name for mycoplasma?
feline infectious anemia
what are the clinical signs of mycoplasma?
conjunctivitis, pneumonia, URI symptoms, oral/nasal ulcers, dyspnea, possible abortion, polyarthritis