Infectious dz: Cat 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What feline virus is worldwide and accounts for the most disease related deaths in pet cats?

A

Feline leukemia virus

retrovirus (needs DNA for replication)

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2
Q

What tissues does FeLV replicate in?

A

Bone marrow, salivary glands, respiratory epithelium

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3
Q

T/F: Endogenous FeLV passed down from mother to kitten is non pathogenic

A

TRUE

Exogenic FeLV that is passed horizontally from cat to cat is pathogenic and infectious –> FeLV-A

Cats who have endogenous inherited FeLV are more prone to get the pathogenic form

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4
Q

What is the FeLV associated gag protein that is produced in large quantities in infected cats?

A

gag protein P27

this is used as the antigen to test for FeLV infections

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5
Q

What cats are more likely to get FeLV, young or adult cats?

A

Adults - since they have more time for exposure

Outdoor cats and male cats are of greater risk

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6
Q

What is the mode of transmission of FeLV?

A

Close contact virus shedding
Saliva (predominantly) and blood
Vertical spread possible when queen is viremic (transplacental or nursing)

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7
Q

T/F: FeLV is very stable in the environment

A

FALSE

It is readily inactivated in the environment and easy to clean/disinfect

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8
Q

What is an abortive type FeLV infection?

A

Cats that have very high neutralizing effects - once they get exposed to the FeLV antigen their immune system will immediately destroy it.

These cats will never get infected and will always test negative for FeLV antigen

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9
Q

What is a regressive type FeLV infection?

A

cats test positive - then will become and test negative in a few months (3-6 weeks)

  • once the virus begins replicating in the cells the immune system will kick in and stop any more replication
  • The virus will still be present in their genome - but the viremia will be cleared
  • if the cat becomes immunosuppressed - the virus could become active again (or in pregnancy)
  • The cat will always be PCR positive for FeLV - but will be Negative for the p27 antigen
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10
Q

What is a progressive type FeLV infection?

A

These cats do not have a properly functioning immune system

the virus will replicate and spread all over

  • these cats remain viremic (positive for FeLV antigen)
  • tend to die within 3 years
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11
Q

What is an atypical or focal type FeLV infection?

A

Not really seen in clinical practice

noted in lab/virus induced animals - where the virus will be restricted to certain tissues like the spleen, LN, Small intestine, or mammary glands
(p27 antigen positive OR negative)

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12
Q

What clinical signs are associated with FeLV?

A

Hematopoietic malignancy, myelosuppression, infectious dz, various co-infections, Fading kitten syndrome (born with fatal viremia), neuropathy

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13
Q

What modes of diagnostic testing are used to diagnose FeLV ?

A

Direct detection of the virus - Look for p27 antigen using ELISA
*Direct FA testing

PCR (this will be positive even in a regressive cat - but could be helpful to link lymphoma to a previous FeLV infection)

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14
Q

T/F: Antibody detection is a good method to diagnose FeLV

A

FALSE

useless - immune cats will have antibodies

Antigen testing is ideal (p27)

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15
Q

what is the treatment for regressive FeLV positive cats?

A

Separate from FeLV negative cats and confine indoors to prevent spread to other cats

  • good nutrition and husbandry
  • exam, blood work, fecal, urine culture - yearly to ensure no underlying infections

(if the cat can not be separated from other FeLV NEG cats - the Neg cats should be vaccinated)

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16
Q

T/F: FeLV positive cats with tumors have a worse prognosis than FeLV negative cats with tumors

A

TRUE

since they will have a decreased immune tumor fighting capabilities.

Treatment however, will not be different

17
Q

T/F: Most hematological disorders caused by FeLV are not reversible

A

FALSE

Most are reversible

  • blood transfusions
  • Recombinant human EPO injections (required daily)
  • Darbopoietin (long acting EPO synthetic injection required monthly)
  • Granulocyt colony stimulating factor for patients with neutropenia ($$$$$$)
18
Q

What is the treatment for progressive FeLV infections?

A

Antiviral chemotherapy (Zidovudine, didanosine) - anemia can be a side effect: CBCs should be checked routinely

Immunomodulatory therapy: Feline Interferon to stimulate the cell mediated immunity (T cells) –> this therapy will decrease clinical signs and increase life expectancy

19
Q

What cats are more susceptible to Feline Immunodeficiency virus? (FIV)

A

outdoor cats and cats in high population densities
Males
Adults are more susceptible than kittens

20
Q

How is FIV transmitted?

A

Parental inoculation of virus in saliva or blood (**bite wounds)

(experimentally all parental routes)

Transmission through the mucosal route is RARE

Transmission from mother to kitten in utero or postpartum is VERY RARE

21
Q

FIV is found in high concentrations in milk; why don’t the suckling kittens get infected?

A

It does not go through their MM and then gets denatured in the GI tract

22
Q

T/F: The younger a cat is when he/she gets infected with FIV - the sooner they will show clinical signs and as a result die sooner

A

TRUE

23
Q

A stray kitten is brought into your clinic, and you estimate it is 8 weeks old. The FIV test comes back positive, is this a death sentence for the kitten?

A

NO

The kitten may have maternal antibodies against FIV
These can last up to 6 months. The kitten should be retested after that time

24
Q

The FIV virus is initially cleared by _______. Virus replication occurs in target tissues rich in ______

A

Cleared by macrophages initially

Replication occurs in tissues rich in lymphcytes - thymus, spleen. LN

25
Q

When are viral antibodies able to be detected post FIV infection?

A

2 -4 weeks post infection

after initial viremia the host will mount an antibody response

26
Q

What occurs in the asymptomatic period of the FIV infection?

A

The virus still continues to infect additional cells

plasma levels of virus and viral RNA will increase from time to time

27
Q

T/F: FIV affects the cell mediated and humoral immunity, so CD8 and CD4 cells will be affected

A

TRUE

this can disrupt the normal immune function

28
Q

What clinical signs may be seen in the acute stage of FIV?

A

this is during initial viremia

fever, malaise, +/- secondary infections, lymphandenopathy, enteritis, resp. tract disease, stomatitis, dermatitis

29
Q

What clinical signs are seen in the terminal phase of FIV infection?

A

This is feline AIDS. It occurs after the cat goes through a clinical asymptomatic phase

*secondary infections, neurological signs: behavior change, seizurews, paresis, multifocal motor abnormalities,
Ocular dz - anterior uveitis (usually secondary to toxoplasma)
Neoplasia - lymphoma or leukemia

30
Q

The most effective ELISA snap test for FIV is looking for _________?

A

ANTIBODIES

31
Q

What changes may be noted on the bloodwork of an FIV positive patient?

A

neutropenia and lymphopenia
Anemia
Hyperglobulinemia

32
Q

What tests can be done to confirm FIV in a cat?

A

ELISA - antibody testing

(ELISA antigen is not routinely used and PCR may have false positives - bc the virus undergoes many changes while in the body)

33
Q

T/F: Kittens may have FIV antibodies from their mother, so if they have a positive test, they should retest at 4 months

A

FALSE

It is true kittens can have FIV antibodies from their mother - but those can be present until the kitten is up to 6 months old. Retest after 6 months

34
Q

If you fear a cat has been exposed to FIV - how long should you wait before testing that cat?

A

60 days post potential exposure - this ensures there will not be a false negative result in the early stage of infection

35
Q

What treatment is recommended for FIV positive cates?

A

Antiviral chemotherapy

AZT (zidovudine) - improves quality of life and prolongs life expenctancy
**regular CBCs should be done as a side effect is anemia

Immunomodulatory therapy: Interferon alpha - stimulates the immune system

36
Q

What management protocols should be considered with FIV positive cats?

A
Keep cats strictly indoors
Feed a balanced diet
Avoid raw meat and milk
Proper flea, tick, and parasite control
Treat underlying infections immediately
37
Q

T/F: The FIV vaccine provides total immunity against the virus

A

FALSE

single strain vax only protect against that specific strain

New vas with subtype A and D that is promising for a broad spectrum virus neutralising antibodies