Feline Viruses

Question 1

what is ataxia

Answer 1

disease that damages the cerebellum

Question 2

what is feline Calicivirus

Answer 2

• highly contagious

- enables rapid virus mutations

Question 3

what is the pathogenesis of calicivirus

Answer 3

• tongue, mouth, eyes, lungs, and synovial membrane affected
• blisters on tongue develop into ulcers
• virus is in the blood for 2-4 days
• kills epithelial cells
• some cats recover in 30 days
• some cats will shed the virus for life
• virus is localized in the tonsils

Question 4

what are the signs of calicivirus

Answer 4

Sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, lethargic

limping

Question 5

what are eye problems associated with calicivirus

Answer 5

ulcers of cornea
inflammation of the conjunctiva
excessive tearing

Question 6

why is calicivirus highly virulent

Answer 6

infects more adults than kittens
hyper inflammation
causes blood clots
67% mortality rate

Question 7

what is the diagnosis of calicivirus

Answer 7

1. virus isolation
2. serology (antibody detection): all cats that have tested positive are considered suspicious for being a carrier
3. molecular techniques: PCR

Question 8

what is the disease management of calicivirus

Answer 8

• NSIAD
• vaccination
• disinfect

Question 9

what is feline leukemia virus

Answer 9

-gamma retrovirus
-subtypes: a,b,c, t
-doesn’t survive well in environment
-can live in moist areas
-transmission: cat to cat
or surgery but unlikely
-more relevant in multi-cat households

Question 10

what is the pathogenesis of feline leukemia virus

Answer 10

the infection starts in the oropharynx: infects lymphocytes that travel to bone marrow
-virus will infect salivary glands and intestine

Question 11

why will cats with feline leukemia virus get odd tumours

Answer 11

because they have a poor immune system which leads to other cancers because their immunosurveillance system has been compromised

Question 12

what is the disease management of feline leukemia virus

Answer 12

1. general
   separate infected cats from non-infected cats
   - in a multi cat household: test and remove all virus-positive cats
   - keep cats indoor
2. care
   - antibiotics
   - blood transfusion & stimulating agents to help anemic animals
   - vaccinate

Question 13

what is feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

Answer 13

• retrovirus
• mutates rapidly
• main route of transmission is in utero & to kittens
• appears later in life (4-6) years

Question 14

what is FIV pathogenesis

Answer 14

• targets CD4 T cells and macrophages

- affects immune system

Question 15

what do CD4 T cells do

Answer 15

direct immune responses

Question 16

what do macrophages do

Answer 16

initiate immune response and destroy pathogens involved in healing

Question 17

what are 8 disease management methods of FIV

Answer 17

1. Diagnosis
2. Decontamination
3. Isolation
4. vaccination
5. routine health checks
6. neutering infected male cats
7. supportive treatment
8. antiviral therapy