Feline Calicivirus

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Introduction

The normal hosts for this virus are domestic cats and cheetahs. The virus has a high morbidity/low mortality rate, but affected animals can be further compromised by concurrent infection. The incubation period is 2-10 days.

Clinical signs include:

  • Vesicles and ulcers of the oral epithelium (2-5mm)
  • Nasal and ocular discharge
  • Sneezing
  • Anorexia

Variable signs include:

  • Pyrexia
  • Dyspnoea
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Rhinitis
  • Tracheitis
  • Pneumonia

Differential Diagnoses may include:

  • Feline Herpes
  • Clamydophila felis
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica

Recovery can be followed by carrier status

Epidemiology

  • FCV is endemic worldwide
  • Transmission occurs through direct contact with secretions of carrier cats or indirect contact via drinking bowls, etc
  • Clinical disease is most frequently seen in kittens
  • Active immunity formed by 1 year of age
  • Transmission occurs from diseased and recovered (carrier) animals
  • Antigenic variation means that subclinical reinfections can occur

Antigenicity

  • Single serotype with antigenic variation

Strains

Recent strains have been shown to cause systemic disease:

  • Initial upper respiratory signs are followed by:
    • Severe pyrexia
    • Oedema, particularly of the head and limbs
    • Skin ulcers
    • Icterus and Petchiae
  • Mortality of up to 50%, and higher in cats over 1 year of age
  • Conventional vaccination ineffective

Diagnosis

  • Clinical signs unhelpful due to differentials
  • Nasal, conjunctival, or oropharyngeal swabs taken for virus isolation
    • Diagnosed by pyknosis (Feline herpes causes cellular swelling and syncitia)

Control

Virulent isolate outbreak:

  • Quarantine and restrict movement

Prevention:

  • Vaccination:
    • Live or dead vaccines available
    • Contain broadly cross-reactive strains
    • In combination with feline herpes and panleukopenia virus
    • Live nose-drop vaccine now available in US
    • Particular concern for catteries


  • Rhinitis,
  • Suggested in the presence of ulceration of the dorsal and lateral edges of the tongue, hard palate and external nares
  • Lesions present may include interstitial pneumonia with necrotising bronchiolitis
  • Also see Feline viral rhinotracheitis above