Feline calicivirus: routes of infection, symptoms, treatment and prevention

Feline calcivirosis is an acute infection, in severe cases leading to the death of the patient. It is not transmitted to other pets and humans, but in cats it causes inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes, the oral mucosa, spreading to the respiratory organs. Antiviral vaccination, as well as timely, properly selected treatment contribute to an almost complete cure.

Description of the disease

The disease is caused by the Feline calicivirus (FCV). It affects the upper respiratory tract and oral mucosa. Feline calcivirus is registered all over the world, including in Russia. It affects domestic and wild representatives of the cat family. There is no breed selectivity for this infection. Calcivirus is one of the most common causes of upper respiratory tract diseases in cats (along with the herpes virus). Kittens over 2 months old and young kittens up to 2 years old are susceptible. They make up about 90% of the total number of sick animals.

On a note! If the cat is vaccinated against calcivirus infection, then suckling kittens will be protected from infection during the period of feeding with cat milk.

Calcivirus has many variants (more than 40 strains are known). During reproduction, the pathogen exhibits high variability. In this respect, it is similar to the human influenza virus. Strains of the virus differ in symptoms and severity of the disease. Calcivirosis is considered a mild infection. It is dangerous for small kittens, animals with weakened immune systems, old cats or those with chronic diseases. Cats become infected with calcivirus infection throughout the year. The peak incidence occurs in the autumn-winter period.

Impact of the virus on people

Sometimes very frightening symptoms spread misinformation about the relationship between people and sick cats. This virus is not at all dangerous for owners, moreover, it will not cause any harm to dogs, horses and other animals. This strain is only related to cats. There is no need to be afraid of a sick pet; it needs to be treated; it needs the support and care of its owner.

All infections that affect an animal’s immune system are dangerous for it, but if you notice the symptoms in a timely manner and begin treatment, you can cope with this disease.

Routes of infection

Sick cats release the virus into the external environment through discharge from the eyes and nose, and saliva. When you sneeze, the infection spreads through the air several meters around. The virus can easily be brought into the house from the street on clothes, shoes, or hands.

Attention! Domestic cats often become infected through contact with an outdoor kitten brought into the house.

The main routes of infection with calcivirus infection:

• contact with a sick animal;
• airborne;
• through household items - tray, bowls, combs, bedding, cat houses, toys.

Transmission of the pathogen through urine and feces is of less importance. Cats primarily become infected through the mouth or by inhaling viral particles. The virus persists in the environment for about 1–2 weeks, less often up to 1 month. This depends on external conditions - the presence of wet cleaning, indoor air parameters. Humidity and low temperatures increase the viability of the virus. The risk of an infectious outbreak exists in nurseries, with group housing of animals, the appearance of new cats, with poor feeding, and poor indoor air (dusty, dry, hot). Group housing increases the virulence of the virus, and the infection can be more severe.

Caring for a recovering cat

The information that calcivirus in cats can spread to humans and other animals is unfounded. The disease is species-specific, meaning only the cat family is affected. For this reason, you should not be afraid of contracting the virus and protect yourself and your family from a recovering pet, whose life is entirely in the hands of the owner.

The disease takes all the strength from the animal, so special attention needs to be paid to nutrition . The diet should contain high-calorie, easily digestible foods, which must be served in liquid form. You need to keep your pet clean and ventilate the room once a day. It is necessary to promptly remove discharge from the nose and eyes, and treat mouth ulcers.

Symptoms of calcivirosis

Adult cats often become subclinically or asymptomatically ill. An acute course of calcivirosis is noted in kittens. The incubation period lasts from 2 to 17 days. Usually the first symptoms appear 3–5 days after infection. Characteristic:

• bouts of sneezing for 1 – 2 days;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• runny nose.

On days 3–5 of illness the following are noted:

• increase in body temperature by 1 - 1.5 ° C, in kittens up to 40 - 41 ° C;
• loss of appetite;
• weakness;
• Thick mucus or exudate with pus is released from the eyes and nose;
• the nose is stuffy, the cat breathes through its mouth.

Further symptoms characteristic of calcivirus infection develop.

1. Stomatitis and gum inflammation. Red spots appear in the oral cavity on the palate, tongue, and later ulcers form there. They can be on the nose and in the nasal cavity. The cat eats and drinks poorly, makes pushing movements with its tongue, as if it was choking, scratches its nose, coughs, and sneezes. The gums are inflamed, red, swollen, and sometimes a whitish coating is visible on them. There is an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth.
2. Profuse drooling.

Body temperature returns to normal after 3–4 days. In kittens and older animals, the infection can develop into viral pneumonia and shortness of breath develops. Inflammation spreads to the trachea, bronchi, and larynx.

Sometimes atypical symptoms appear:

• skin ulcers;
• inflammation of the joints (acute arthritis) - lameness, pain that goes away after a few days;
• ulcers in the stomach and intestines (very rare).

The disease lasts on average 7–10 days , but can last up to 14–21 days . The animal recovers, but continues to release the virus into the external environment. It infects other cats and may have periodic outbreaks of infection. Carrier cats infect their offspring.

Important! After a few months, the intensity of virus release into the external environment decreases. After three months, approximately half of the cats are no longer a source of infection. But some animals remain carriers of the virus for life.

In severe cases, the cat dies from the infection. This mainly occurs due to various complications, the most likely of which are pneumonia and bacterial infection. Death occurs a few days after the onset of the disease. Before death, kittens develop diarrhea, vomiting, and severe weakness. Calcivirosis can become chronic. This is facilitated by the lack of proper treatment and low immunity. The chronic form of calcivirosis manifests itself as stomatitis and gum inflammation. With this form of the disease, the cat requires a course of treatment with immunomodulators every three months. In isolated cases, the disease occurs as a severe systemic infection. It is caused by highly pathogenic strains of calcivirus - vsFCV. The pathogen enters the animal’s body in the usual way, but is not limited to the respiratory tract. The virus infects the inner layer of blood vessels, liver cells, and pancreas. Severe damage to internal organs develops:

• hepatitis;
• pancreatitis;
• nose and intestinal bleeding.

With this form of the disease, swelling of the paws and head, the appearance of ulcers on the animal’s skin, and jaundice are possible. With a systemic infection, more than 60% of sick cats die.

Susceptibility

Content

The disease is known in many countries of the world. Cats of all age groups and breeds are susceptible to calcivirus. Greater susceptibility to infection is observed in kittens up to three months. For them it is acute, quite intense, and quickly leads to death. Mature cats are characterized by the transition of diseases to the chronic stage.

The causes of the risk are considered to be reduced immunity as a result of other, recently suffered diseases, and incorrect vaccination or its inaccessibility.

In closed households, calcivirosis occurs in cats quite rarely. The incidence of disease between animals kept in kennels is much higher. The maximum circulation of the infectious agent is recorded in autumn and winter.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of calcivirosis is not difficult. The development of acute respiratory disease in cats under 2 years of age, accompanied by characteristic clinical signs, suggests a calcivirus or herpesvirus infection. If there are ulcers in the mouth, then it is a calcivirus. To clarify the diagnosis, laboratory tests are performed.

1. A swab of nasal and eye discharge is taken. A PCR study is carried out (determining the virus by genome). It is possible to grow the virus in cell culture, but this method is not widely used. PCR is also used to identify carriers of the virus. If the pathogen is detected in the blood a year after the illness, then the infection has become chronic.
2. Blood chemistry. A decrease in hemoglobin levels by 25–30% is detected.
3. Serological studies using the method of paired sera.
4. If pneumonia is suspected, an x-ray of the lungs is taken.

It is necessary to differentiate calcivirosis from panleukopenia, herpes (feline rhinotracheitis), chlamydia and rabies.

• Herpes is characterized by inflammation of the cornea with ulceration and cough. There is no stomatitis, mouth ulcers, drooling, or lameness.
• With chlamydia, a spasm of the eyelid and the release of the third eyelid into gas are noted. There is no drooling or mouth ulcers.
• With rabies, there are signs of brain damage (changes in behavior, seizures, convulsions). No mouth ulcers, runny nose.
• Panleukopenia (cat distemper) occurs with abdominal pain, vomiting, and leukocytes in the blood are greatly reduced.

Danger to humans

The infection is not dangerous for people. However, regardless of whether feline calcivirosis is dangerous for humans or not, if the disease is detected in a pet, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian. Only he will be able to identify an accurate diagnosis and determine the likelihood of infection in each specific case.

When caring for an animal with calcivirus, it is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene (use special clothing, gloves, disinfectants), and carry out routine disinfection of the premises.

Treatment

If there are no complications, then the cat can be treated at home. When kept in groups, sick individuals are isolated. Separate inventory is allocated; service personnel change their overalls, wash and disinfect their hands. Disinfect the premises where the sick animal was located. Therapy is carried out in several directions.

On the first day, while the pathogen is circulating in the blood, it is possible to administer the specific serum Vitafel. The drug contains gamma globulins for three cat infections: calcivirus, herpesvirus and panleukopenia. In severe cases of the disease, the administration of Vitafel is repeated every other day. If the serum was not applied on the first day of the disease, then treatment with it at a later date is ineffective.

Attention! All medications are prescribed by a veterinarian after examining the cat. Self-medication can be dangerous.

To reduce the likelihood of an allergy to serum, antihistamines are prescribed:

• Suprastin;
• Diphenhydramine;
• Tavegil.

If a bacterial infection develops, antibiotics are prescribed:

• Amoxiclav;
• Ceftriaxone or other cyclosporine drugs.

Immunomodulators stimulate the production of immune response factors:

• Fosprenil;
• Roncoleukin;
• Ribotan;
• Reaferon;
• Immunofan;
• Katozal;
• Cycloferon;
• Maxidin.

For joint damage and signs of lameness, injections of anti-inflammatory drugs are given:

• Ketofen;
• Rimadyl;
• Stop arthritis.

The oral cavity is irrigated with disinfectant solutions:

• Furacillin;
• Chlorhexidine.

Ulcers in the mouth and nose are lubricated with Lugol's solution with glycerin or Vinilin.

For general strengthening of the body, complex vitamins are prescribed in injections, since the cat eats and drinks poorly. Some preparations contain amino acids in addition to vitamins:

• Gamavit;
• Multivit;
• Ultravit;
• Aminovit.

In case of dehydration and severe intoxication, detoxification solutions are administered intravenously:

• Reopoliglyukin;
• Sorbilact;
• Ringer's solution;
• glucose solution 5%;
• Ringer-Locke solution;
• Hartmann's solution.

Usually, with this condition, the cat is hospitalized in a hospital.

1. Remove exudate from the eyes and nose with a damp cotton pad. For severe nasal congestion, it is recommended to instill 0.025% Afrin (children's nasal drops) one drop in one nostril, the next day in the other, for 5 to 7 days.
2. Purulent conjunctivitis is treated with eye drops (Maksidin). They are instilled three times a day after cleaning the eyes. Instead of drops, you can use tetracycline eye ointment; it is placed behind the lower eyelid twice a day.

During illness, the cat is switched to wet food - canned food, preserves. The food is slightly heated so that the animal smells better. If the pet refuses water, then they practice forced watering from a syringe. The room must be provided with moist, cool air and regularly ventilated. Treatment of calcivirosis in cats can last up to 2 months, depending on the severity of the disease and complications.

Possible complications

In most cases, calcivirosis is complicated by a bacterial infection. The probability of death increases to 60%. Other complications of feline calcivirus infection:

• pneumonia;
• dehydration;
• tooth loss due to gum inflammation;
• renal failure in chronic course.

Consequence of the disease

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At an early age, the risk of death of an animal not vaccinated against calcivirus is high - for every 100 cases of infection, only 20 have a favorable outcome. The remaining 80 die. Cats as adults have a much better chance of recovery: out of 100 cases, with timely treatment, 70% survive. Old cats do not have such a strong immune system, so their chances of survival are 50/50. But in any case, there is always a chance that the disease will become chronic, and the recovered cat will become a carrier of the virus.

Prevention

The only reliable way to prevent calcivirus infection in cats is vaccination. Veterinarians include vaccination against this disease in the standard vaccination regimen. The vaccine does not completely protect a cat from infection with calcivirus, since there are many varieties of it. But the presence of immunity makes it easier to endure the infection and avoid complications. The likelihood of infection is also reduced. Vaccinations begin for kittens from 8 to 12 weeks of age. The vaccine is administered two or three times. Afterwards, revaccinations are done every 1-3 years. Vaccines contain different numbers of strains. There is no biological product that can protect cats from all types of calcivirus. Complex vaccines are used for vaccination.

1. Nobivac Ducat. Intervet , Holland. Live dry vaccine against viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus. Initially, they are vaccinated twice with an interval of 3–4 weeks. Immunity is developed 10 days after the second administration, its duration is 12 months. Nobivac Ducat can be used from 6 weeks of age.
2. Nobivac Tricat . Vaccine against calicivirus, viral rhinotracheitis and feline panleukopenia live dry. The characteristics of the drug are similar to the previous vaccine, but it can only be used from 8 weeks of age.
3. Multifel-4. NPO "Narvak" , Russia. Inactivated (killed) vaccine against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and feline chlamydia. Kittens are vaccinated at the age of 8 – 12 weeks. The vaccine is administered twice with an interval of 21–28 days. Revaccinate once at the age of 10-12 months. Then the vaccination is repeated once a year. Immunity is developed 14 days after the second injection of the vaccine, the duration of protection is 12 months.
4. Vaccines of the "Purevax" . Merial , France. Trivalent "Purevax RCP" and tetravalent "Purevax RCPCh" (against panleukopenia, infectious rhinotracheitis, calicivirus infection and feline chlamydia). Contains an inactivated calcivirus component. Immunity to calcivirus infection is developed 14 days after the second injection of the vaccine, for a period of one year.

Only healthy animals can be vaccinated. Before vaccination, deworming is carried out. Before mating, it is recommended to vaccinate the cat 3–4 weeks in advance to ensure a high level of maternal antibodies in future offspring. Pregnant cats cannot be vaccinated. In addition to vaccination, they follow the general rules for the prevention of infectious diseases.

• Complete feeding.
• Housing hygiene: regular wet cleaning (in case of group housing - regular disinfection), compliance with zoohygienic air parameters (ventilation, temperature, humidity).
• In group housing, newly arrived animals are kept separately for 10-14 days (quarantine).
• The cat owner is not recommended to visit homes where there are sick pets. If this is not possible, then after returning they change clothes, wash their hands thoroughly with soap, and do not allow the cat to come into contact with outdoor clothing and shoes.

Calcivirus infection in most cases ends safely. The disease is more difficult for small kittens and weakened animals. In any case, at the first signs of infection - sneezing, runny nose, drooling, refusal to feed - the cat should be shown to a veterinarian. He will prescribe treatment, which is usually carried out at home. To protect your cat from calcivirus infection, it is recommended to get vaccinations on time.