Feline calicivirus infection
This disease is a type of feline viral upper respiratory tract disease, which mainly manifests as upper respiratory tract symptoms, biphasic fever, serous and mucinous rhinorrhea, conjunctivitis, and extreme depression; glossitis and respiratory rales may be seen in some sick cats. Under natural conditions, only felines are susceptible to this virus, and it often occurs in cats aged 8 to 12 weeks. The main sources of infection are sick cats and virus-carrying cats. The former can excrete a large amount of virus with secretions and excretions in the acute phase, contaminating cages, floors and other items, and can also be directly transmitted to susceptible cats. The latter is generally transformed from acute cases. Although the clinical symptoms disappear, it can carry and disperse the virus for a long time, and is the most important and dangerous source of infection. At the same time, it is common clinically that this disease is complicated by feline herpes virus type I infection (also known as infectious rhinotracheitis). It is said that its incidence rate accounts for 85% to 90% of the total cases, so some people call these two diseases together as feline respiratory tract infection. syndrome. Feline calicivirus infection is a common disease in cats, with a high incidence rate but a low mortality rate.
[Main Evidence] The incubation period of feline calicivirus infection is 2 to 3 days. The initial fever reaches 39.5~40.5℃, and the severity of symptoms varies depending on the virulence of the infected virus. Oral ulcers are the most common and characteristic symptom, and sometimes the only symptom. Oral ulcers are common on the tongue and hard palate, especially around cleft palates. Ulcers form after the blisters on the tongue rupture. Sometimes, similar lesions may appear on the nasal mucosa; sick cats are in poor spirits, sneezing, and have increased secretions from the mouth, nose, and eyes. Eye and nose secretions are serous at first and become mucus after 4 to 5 days. Salivation and keratitis sometimes occur. When the virus is highly virulent, pneumonia may occur, resulting in difficulty breathing, dry or moist rales in the lungs, and kittens under 3 months old may die from pneumonia.
When infected with feline calicivirus, the symptoms are usually not as severe as those with feline rhinotracheitis, and are often tolerated and recover after 7 to 10 days. Although the clinical symptoms of these cats disappear, they often become virus carriers (the virus mainly exists in the pharynx, especially the tonsils) and become a dangerous source of infection.
The main pathological changes are ulcers on the tongue and palate, which initially form blisters and then rupture. There was a large amount of neutrophil infiltration at the edge and base of the ulcer. Primary focal alveolar pneumonia can lead to exudative pneumonia and proliferative interstitial pneumonia. The changes in conjunctivitis are usually more pronounced.
[Treatment] There is no specific therapy. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used in the acute phase of the disease to prevent secondary infections. and with supportive and symptomatic treatment.
When there is ulcerative keratitis, 1% trifluridine solution or chloramphenicol eye drops can be used for eye drops, once every 8 hours, or the medicine can be used for nasal drops. Oral ulcers can be sprayed with Bingbo Powder or Qingdai Powder 3 to 4 times a day. For severe respiratory symptoms, you can use 10g of peppermint, 15g of Pediculus, 10g of Angelica dahurica, 10g of almond, 10g of Platycodon, 15g of honeysuckle, 15g of Forsythia, 15g of aster, 15g of Rhizoma root. Add appropriate amount of water and fry 3 times, each time fry to about 50ml, combine 3 times. Liquid medicine, take 3 times a day. Antibiotics or amine injections can also be injected into Dazhui, Shenzhu, Houshu, and Tiantushu; Shengmai Yin can be taken orally to nurse them back to health.
[Prevention] Cats that have recovered from the disease can carry the virus for at least 35 days, so they should be strictly isolated to prevent the spread of the pathogen. At present, single vaccines to prevent this disease include attenuated vaccines and inactivated vaccines. Clinically commonly used combination vaccines, that is, the triple vaccine of feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, and feline viral rhinotracheitis are available for prevention. Generally, immunization is given once at 8 to 12 weeks of age and once at 14 to 16 weeks of age, and once a year thereafter.
