Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus are estimated to cause up to
90 percent of upper respiratory disease in cats.These diseases are rarely
fatal but are extremely prevalent.Transmission occurs through sneezing
and is spread through the air, by direct contact and by touching con-
taminated objects. The most common signs are sneezing, anorexia and
conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissues around the eyeball).
Feline herpes virus (FHV-1) does not cause disease in humans.
(Humans can be affected with Herpes simplex, which causes fever
blisters, and Herpes zoster, which is responsible for chicken pox and
shingles.) Cats can develop chronic herpes virus infections that cause
long-term, intermittent bouts of sneezing and conjunctivitis. Feline calici
virus (FCV) infection can also cause limping or severe gum disease.
Currently the most common form of vaccination is injectable, but
the FRCP vaccine is also available as a topical vaccine.Topical vaccines
may be administered intranasal (in the nose) or intraocular (in the eye).
The benefits of topical vaccinations are that they stimulate more rapid
protection and there is no chance of developing an injection site tumor.
This type of vaccine can be useful in boarding, cattery, and shelter sit-
uations when quicker and more frequent upper respiratory disease pro-
tection is needed.The disadvantages of topical vaccination are that they
can trigger mild sneezing, coughing and conjunctivitis.
Vaccination against herpes and calici viruses does not prevent infec-
tion but does reduce the severity of the associated clinical signs. In addi-
tion, the calici virus vaccines that are currently available probably do
not protect against all forms of the virus.
Rabies
Rabies is among the core vaccines because of the potential for a rabid cat
to bite and infect a human and because the disease is lethal to cats. Rabies
is transmitted primarily through bite wounds, and the virus is present in
the saliva of infected animals. Clinical signs associated with rabies infec-
tion are behavioral changes, pupil dilation changing to constriction,
drooling and stumbling. Normally friendly and affectionate animals can
suddenly and unexpectedly turn aggressive and agitated when infected
with rabies, and normally aloof cats can become very friendly. Infected
animals can die within four days of developing clinical signs. Once clin-
ical signs develop, there is no effective treatment for rabies.
The incubation period of the virus—the time from bite wound to
clinical signs—varies. Rabies is introduced into a cat's body by a bite,
spreads up nerves to enter the central nervous system, then spreads to other
body tissues. For some reason, the virus likes to go to the salivary glands.
