Feline calicivirus infection

Feline calicivirus infection

Feline calicivirus is a highly contagious virus that causes a mild to severe respiratory infection and oral disease in cats. It is especially common in shelters and breeding colonies and often infects young cats. Most cats recover completely after a calicivirus infection, but rare strains can be especially deadly. The virus poses no threat to humans.

Aetiology:

Feline calicivirus (FCV) belongs to a large family of viruses named Caliciviridae, whose members infect a wide range of vertebrate animals.

Transmission:

The virus spreads through direct contact with the saliva, nasal mucus and eye discharge of infected cats and through aerosol droplets that spread when cats sneeze.

Pathogenesis:

After being exposed to FCV, the incubation period is two to 14 days before symptoms appear. 
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The virus likely initially infects the lining of the back of the mouth. 
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After the virus replicates there, it likely spreads through the bloodstream to other organs.
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FCV preferentially infects the lining of the mouth and the tissues within the lungs. Most cats develop an upper respiratory tract infection and in more severe cases, the virus travels into the lungs where it causes pneumonia.

Signs and Symptoms:

A Cat symptom depends on the strain of FCV it contracts. At first, the cat will have symptoms that look like a 
cold with sneezing
 Nasal congestion
Fever and sometimes drooling.
Discharge coming from the eyes and nose. 
In severe cases, cats can also develop inflammation and ulcers on the tongue, and the lining of the mouth. 
Lethargy, mild lameness and lack of appetite may also occur.
  Cats may lose weight, and the infection can also cause abortions in pregnant cats.
 The chronic form of gingivitis causes thick and inflamed gums, which makes eating painful. 

Diagnosis:

Clinical signs

Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR)

Prevention:

Vaccination

Vaccines do not protect against FCV entirely, but they can greatly reduce the severity of the infection if your cat is exposed. Several combination vaccines against FCV, feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline panleukopenia virus (the cause of feline distemper) are available, which can be given nasally or as an injection.