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Feline respiratory disease
complex
Navies March 2011
Definition
• Feline Respiratory Disease complex
includes conjunctivits, rhinosinusitis,
lacrimation, salivation, oral ulcerations.
• Species specific- Exotic and Domestic
Felines
• FVR-Feline Viral Rhinotrachitis
• FCV- Feline Calicivirus
Etiology
• Caused by either :
– Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus (FVR) (herpes)
– Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
– Chlamydia felis (C felis)
– Viruses (80-90%): herpes and calcivirus
(ulcerative stomatitis) virus, bacteria, Modified
live vaccines (mild signs in most cases), FeCV,
FIV, fungal infection, polyp, piece of grass snorted
up into nasal passages...,
History of Feline Respiratory
Disease Complex
• FVR was first isolated from cats in 1958 in the United
States
– It is a leading cause of infectious upper respiratory tract
diseases in cats.
– It is related to other Herpesviruses such as those that cause cold
sores and chicken pox in humans
– Infects only felines
• FCV first discovered in the 1950s
– It is a leading cause of infectious upper respiratory tract
diseases in cats.
– Related to other caliciviruses that cause disease to humans
and other animals such as the norwalk virus.
– Does not affect humans
Signalment of Infected Cats
• Severe symptoms are usually confined to
kittens of up to 6 months and senior cats
• Any cat regardless of signalment is
susceptible to Feline Respiratory Disease
Complex if they are not vaccinated.
• Adult cats are unvaccinated or in a multicat environment.
How it is Transmitted?
• FVR /FCV/C felis
•
•
•
•
– Direct contact with the discharge from the eyes and nose of an
infected cat.
– Aerosol: Sneezing may contaminate the environment.
– Fomites: Food dishes, hands, bedding , and other objects which have
been contaminated with infected discharge.
– Not zoonotic
Calicivirus is shed continuously
FVR is released intermittenly
Incubation period is 2-6 days for FVR/FCV
Incubation period is 5-10 days for pneumonitis
• C felis
– Mode of transmission is not certain however the bacterium that
causes feline chlamydia is unable to survive in the environment.
– Not zoonotic
Clinical Signs of Feline Respiratory
Disease Complex
FVR
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sneezing
Nasal Discharge
Conjunctivitis Fever may reach 105'F
(40.5'C) but subsides
Abortion
and tends to
fluctuate from
Fever
normal to
Loss of appetite 103'F (39'C)
Drooling
Oral ulcers(rare )
Depression
FCV
• Eye discharge
• Loss of appetite (mild)
• Oral ulcers
• Chronic Gingivitis
• Joint and muscle pain
• Depression (mild)
Clinical Signs Cont….
C felis
•
•
•
•
•
Conjunctivitis
Watery eyes
Runny Nose
Sneezing
Coughing
If disease progresses
•
•
•
•
Dyspnea
Fever
Loss of appetite
Pneumonia (young kittens)
Diagnosis
• Presumptive diagnosis is based on typical signs.
a. FVR affects conjunctivae and nasal passageway
b. Caliciviruses oral mucosa and lower respiratory
tract
• Chlamydial is chronic, low-grade conjunctivitis
• Isolation and ID of agent-oropharyngeal
mucosa, extrenal nares and conjunctival sacs are
preferred sampling sites.
Diagnostic Tests & Expected Results
• Polymerase chain reaction
• Virus isolation
• Fluorescent testing of cells taken from the
conjuctiva
FCV
FVR
C Felis
Treatment
• FVR
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Fluids for dehydration
Broad spectrum antibiotic
Decongestant, antihistamines,
vaporization can be administered
Clean eyes and nose often
throughout the day
Offer odoriferous food or force feed if
necessary
Avoid using cortisone as an antiinflammatory
Decrease any extra stress to cat
Apply topically for oral infections
– Idoxuridine (Stoxil)
– Vidarabine (Vira-A)
– Trifluridine (Viroptic) 1%
•
•
•
•
•
• FCV
Good nursing care
Broad spectrum antibiotics
Force feed if ulcers prevent cat from
eating
Oxygen therapy if cat is dyspneic
Disinfect environment with bleach
Treatment Cont….
C felis
• Topical and systemic use
of antibiotics
Prognosis
• Mortality is low except for kittens and seniors.
• Most cats will recover.
• Almost all cats that are infected with either FVR
or FCV can remain carriers for months to years
without any symptoms
• Carriers of FVR shed the virus through eye and
nose secretions when stressed.
• Carriers of FCV shed the virus continually for
years.
Prognosis Continued….
• Carriers of C felis intermittently shed from
oropharynx which usually stops in 2 months
but can last for 7 months.
• Some cats never recover from the disease and
continue to show symptoms for the rest of their
lives.
• Cats that are vaccinated for FCV can contract
the ”wild” strain of FCV from an infected cat
– Wont show any symptoms
– Become carriers of wild strain of FCV
– Will continually shed the wild strain of FCV
Prognosis
• Chronic carries or virus-infected with virus with
no symptoms
Pathologic Lesions
fVR
• Reddened/swollen
conjunctivae and nasal
mucous membranes covered
with a serous and purulent
exudate
• Focal necrosis of these
membranes may occur (severe
cases)
• Larynx and trachea may be
mildly inflammed
• Acidophilic intranuclear
inclusion body
FCV
• Ulceration of the oral
mucosa
• Vesicles on tongue and
hard palate become lesions
• Ulceration of median nasal
septum (occasionally)
• Acute pulmonary edema
(serious cases)
Pathologic Lesions Cont….
C felis
• Causative organism may be identified in Giemsostained conjunctiva smears or scrapings.
• The elementary bodies are intracytoplasmic
mycoplasmas occur as extracellular coccoid bodies.
• Often seen on the surface of conjunctival epithelial cells.
Prevention
• The best prevention is vaccination!
Control of environmental factors such as
• FVR /FCV/C felis
overcrowding, exposure to sick cats, and
stress
– MLV vaccine (parenterally) for kittens under 9 wks
should be vaccinated twice, every 3-4wks until they
are 12wks or older .
– Oronasal vaccinations may cause sneezing for 4-7
days after inoculation
– Adult cats should be vaccinated
every1-3 yrs
Client Education
FVR
• Highly contagious
• Vaccinated cats may show
mild symptoms
• Transmittable by contact
of hands or clothing
• Can improve appetite in
sick cats by warming food
or using an odoriferous
type of food
• Disinfectants kill Feline
Herpesvirus Type-1
• Not zoonotic
FCV
• Highly contagious
• Clinical signs can last 57 days
• Oral ulcers can last 7-10
days
• Cats that salivate profusely
can become dehydrated
and need fluid therapy
• Force feeding may be
necessary
Resources
Common Diseases of the Companion Animals
2nd Editon –Alleice Summers
http://www.merckvetmanual.com
http://www.peteducation.com
http://www.vetstream.com
http://www.gopetsamerica.com
http://www.anchorbayvet.com
http://www.vetinfo.com
References
• http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.j
sp?cfile=htm/bc/121604.htm
• http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+
1348&aid=210
• http://www.medicinenet.com/pets/cathealth/feline_viral_respiratory_disease_comple
x-page2.htm
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9764399