PATHOLOGY - Respiratory Disease in Cat Shelters Flashcards
What are the two most common pathogens that cause cat flu?
Feline herpes virus (FHV)
Feline calici virus (FCV)
Which three additional pathogens cause cat flu?
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Chlamydophilia felis
Mycoplasma felis
What is the incubation period?
Incubation period is the time between exposure to a pathogen and the beginning of clinical presentation
What is the incubation period for feline herpes virus (FHV)?
Feline herpes virus (FHV) has a incubation period of one week
How does feline herpes virus (FHV) shed?
Feline herpes virus (FHV) sheds in the oral, nasal and ocular secretions
How long does feline herpes virus (FHV) shed for?
Feline herpes virus (FHV) sheds for 1 to 3 weeks and this begins before clinical signs are apparent
What are the clinical signs of feline herpes virus (FHV)?
Bilateral, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge
Sneezing
Ocular discharge
Ocular ulceration
Facial dermatitis
Rhinitis
Conjunctivitis
Keratitis
Stomatitis
(T/F) Kittens experience more severe clinical signs of feline herpes virus (FHV)?
TRUE.
What are some of the clinical signs of feline herpes virus (FHV) that can be seen in kittens?
Pneumonia
Severe corneal involvement
Kittens can even present with anophthalmus (missing eyes)
What can feline herpes virus (FHV) cause chronically?
Chronic rhinitis
Chronic keratitis
How does feline herpes virus (FHV) act as a latent infection?
Feline herpes virus (FHV) establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglia and will be reactivated when the host is immuno-suppressed
What should you screen for if cats present with feline herpes virus (FHV)?
You should screen for FIP and FeLV in cats with feline herpes virus (FHV) as FIP and FeLV cause immunosuppression which can reactivate a latent feline herpes virus (FHV)
What is the incubation period for feline calici virus (FCV)?
Feline calici virus (FCV) has an incubation period of one week
How does feline calici virus (FCV) shed?
Feline calici virus (FCV) sheds in the oral, nasal and ocular secretions
How long does feline calici virus (FCV) shed for?
Feline calici virus (FCV) sheds for up to 11 weeks however some cats can become persistently infected and shed the virus for their lifetime
What are the clinical signs of feline calici virus (FCV)?
Bilateral, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge
Sneezing
Ocular discharge
Ocular ulceration
Oral ulceration
Hypersalivation
Rhinitis
Conjunctivitis
Keratitis
Stomatitis
FCV is more likely to cause stomatitis tham FHV
(T/F) Kittens experience more severe clinical signs of feline calici virus (FCV)?
TRUE.
What are some of the clinical signs of feline calici virus (FCV) that can be seen in kittens?
Pneumonia
Limping syndrome
What is the incubation period for bordetella bronchiseptica?
Bordetella bronchiseptica has an incubation period of one week
How long does bordetella bronchiseptica shed for?
Bordetella bronchiseptica sheds for up to 3 months
What are the clinical signs of bordetella bronchiseptica?
Nasal discharge
Ocular discharge
Coughing
Sneezing
(T/F) Kittens experience less severe clinical signs of bordetella bronchiseptica
FALSE. Kitten suffer more severe clinical signs of bordetella bronchiseptica
What can bordetella bronchiseptica cause in kittens?
Pneumonia
Which breeds of cat are more severely affected by bordetella bronchiseptica?
Brachycephalic cats
What is often indicated by bordetella bronchiseptica infection?
Bordetella bronchiseptica infection often indicates poor husbandry and ventilation
How do you treat bordetella bronchiseptica?
Treat with a four week course of doxycycline
Is there a vaccination available for bordetella bronchiseptica?
Yes, there is an intranasal vaccination available for bordetella bronchiseptica
What is the incubation period for chlamydophilia felis?
Chlamydophilia felis has an incubation period of one week
How long does chlamydophilia felis shed for?
Chlamydophilia felis can shed for up to 2 months
What are the clinical signs of chlamydophilia felis?
Conjunctivitis
Chemosis
Blepharospasm
Chlamydophilia felis mostly causes ocular signs
What is chemosis?
Chemosis is conjunctival swelling
What is blepharospasm?
Blepharospasm is involuntary tight closure of the eyelids
What is often indicated by chlamydophilia felis infection?
Chlamydophilia felis infection often indicated poor husbandry and ventilation
How do you treat chlamydophilia felis?
Treat with a four week course of doxycycline
(T/F) There is not a vaccination available for chlamydophilia felis
FALSE. There is a vaccination for chlamydophilia feline however it is not very effective
What is the incubation period for mycoplasma felis?
Mycoplasma felis has an incubation period of up to one week
(T/F) Mycoplasma felis is considered to be a primary infection
FALSE. Mycoplasma felis is classfied as a secondary infection as it is a commensal bacteria which can cause infection when the host is immunosuppressed
How do you treat mycoplasma felis?
Treat with a three week course of Azithromycin
What is important to note when using azithromycin to treat mycoplasma felis infections?
Azithromycin is a human medication and thus has to be prescribed under the cascade
(T/F) There is no vaccination available for mycoplasma felis
TRUE.
Which factors increase susceptibility to cat flu?
Age
Immune status
Breed
Poor environment and management
Which factors increase the risk of cat flu due to their immune status?
Kittens
Unvaccinated adults
Parasitism
Poor nutrition
Co-infection
Concurrent disease
Stress
Which breeds of cat are more susceptible/experience more severe clinical signs of cat flu?
Brachycephalic cats
Oriental cats
Which four factors allow for more successful management of cat flu within cat shelters?
Prevention
Isolation
Diagnosis
Cleaning/disinfection
What can be done to prevent cat flu in shelters?
Vaccination
Early adoption
What is the vaccination protocol for kittens in cat shelters?
Vaccinate kittens against feline herpes (FHV) and feline calici viruses (FCV) from 4 weeks old and repeat these vaccinations every two weeks whilst the kittens are in the shelter
When should you vaccinate kittens against bordetella bronchiseptica?
You should vaccinate kittens agaisnt bordetella bronchiseptica when there have been known outbreaks within the shelter, other than that it is not considered a core vaccination
What is the vaccination protocol for adults cats in cat shelters?
Adult cats should be vaccinated against feline herpes (FHV) and feline calici virus (FCV) on entry to the shelter without delay
How can early adoption be used to prevent cat flu in shelters?
The biggest key risk factor for a cat contracting cat flu is their length of time in the shelter and the stress they experience while they are there, adoption both reduces their time in the shelter and stress
What is the optimal number of cats per unit to control cat flu within shelters?
Less than 10 cats per unit is optimal
Which cats should be isolated to minimise the spread of cat flu within shelters?
New cats
Sick cats
Asymptomatic but exposed cats
Vunerable cats
What is the ideal isolation setup?
Ideally an enclosed room with covers over the cage fronts to reduce infectious spread and to minimise stress
What can be done to diagnose the infectious agent causing cat flu?
PCR of conjunctival and pharyngeal swabs
Why is diagnosis not often done in cat shelters?
Diagnosis is not often done as PCR is very expensive
Which disinfectants are effective against most causes of cat flu?
Quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants
What should be used to disinfect feline calici virus (FCV)?
Anigene disinfectant
What should be cleaned/disinfected to minimise the spread of cat flu?
Disinfect all fomites as well as kennels, items such as blankets must be washed and the washing machine disinfected. Anything that cannot be disinfected should be discarded
How do you manage patients with cat flu?
Supportive care (cleaning eyes and nose, fluids, nutrition, appetite stimulants, hydration, analgesia)
