Cat flu
Cat flu is a collective name for infectious diseases of the respiratory tract and mucous membranes of the head in cats. Are used interchangeably, the terms infectious Katzenrhinitis, Katzenpneumonitis, cat flu and infectious rhinotracheitis felis.
It is therefore a symptom complex which is caused by different pathogens, and nose, oral cavity and eyes are concerned. Participating agents are different viruses ( herpes and calicivirus ) and bacteria ( Chlamydia, Bordetella and mycoplasma ). Since the pathogen can encourage each other and thus occur in parallel and treatment and control of these diseases a number of similarities, this collective term is still eligible.
- 5.1 Literature
- 5.2 Notes and references
Pathogens and clinical images
Feline herpesvirus -1 ( FeHV -1)
Herpes viruses are the most common triggers of a calicivirus next cat flu. The disease caused by FeHV -1 is also known as Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis. The pathogen infects exclusively feline animals. Outside of the host survives the virus up to 24 hours and is inactivated reliable by most common disinfectants.
Transmission occurs through contact with an infected animal or indirectly by humans, feed and cleaning equipment. 24 hours after infection, the virus in the host secretions can be detected. As a result of its inability to reproduce at temperatures above 37 ° C, it affects only the relatively " cold" mucous membranes in the head and usually does not cause viremia.
After two to three days, its clinical symptoms. They are expressed mainly in heavy nasal and eye discharge, often associated with conjunctivitis and corneal damage to a Panophthalmitis. Ulcers ( ulcers ) may occur on the tongue, the nasal turbinates can be severely damaged by tissue destruction (necrosis). In addition, often occur fever, loss of appetite and sneezing. Pregnant females may abort during the 6th week of pregnancy. In some cases, the FeHV -1 - especially in kittens - also cause severe bronchopneumonia, which can be fatal.
Despite the dramatic appearance of the disease, the mortality rate is usually low. Consequential damages due to adhesions in the eyelids can range up to blindness, severe destruction of tissue in the nasal mucosa can drag a chronic rhinitis by itself. Some convalescent animals can permanently eliminate viruses, about 80 percent of all diseased animals remain after recovering from infection carriers of the pathogen, which retracts into the ganglion of the trigeminal nerve. Similar to the attack by the calicivirus disease affects mainly young animals.
Feline calicivirus (FCV )
Caliciviruses are also very common triggers of cat flu. Transmission of calicivirus by direct contact with an infected cat from animal pathogens. The spread by aerosols plays no role in this form of cat flu. The virus is Eliminated mainly by secretions of the upper respiratory tract and occasionally in the faeces. After surviving a disease of the animals remain lifelong latently infected with the virus.
The infection occurs in two phases ( biphasic). After the infection of pathogen multiplies in the tonsils, the oral mucosa and the conjunctiva of the eyes. Between the fourth and seventh day, the virus spreads via the bloodstream ( viremia ) throughout the body. Particularly heavily infested are here the lungs and the tongue mucosa. The phase of viremia is characterized by fatigue and severity of respiratory symptoms: fever, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and nasal discharge.
The infestation of the lungs may result in secondary bacterial infections and bronchopneumonia after, then the mortality rate can rise to 30%. It comes to long painful mucosal ulcerations of the tongue or palate: Generally caused by the infection of the mouth mucous image dominates.
In pregnant cats can cause abortions. Some Calicivirenstämme can also cause lameness.
Feline chlamydiosis (Feline pneumonitis)
The Chlamydia infection is caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila felis. It is often and also occurs worldwide. It causes a chronic follicular conjunctivitis, especially with eye discharge, which may also be purulent. This " eye shape " occurs primarily at five to twelve -week-old kitten. The general condition of the animal is undisturbed at an isolated infection with Chlamydophila felis in many cases. Pneumonia occurs rather rarely or not expressed by the typical symptoms, it runs inapparent.
Feline Bordetella infection
Feline Bordetella infection (Feline Bordetellose ) caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica and may be primary, but also secondary occur after damage caused by above-mentioned pathogens. The infection may rarely cause diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including pneumonia.
The disease is more common in larger colonies cats, favoring act spatially cramped posture, poor air circulation and stress. Kittens show more symptoms than older ones. In addition to general weakness will have fever, loss of appetite (anorexia ), cough, runny nose, nasal and eye discharge and swelling of the submaxillary lymph nodes on. In case of lung involvement occur difficulty breathing and abnormal respiratory sounds. In cats, puppies respiratory illness with nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing and rales on auscultation of reported symptoms. An isolated infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica without the participation of the mentioned virus runs often milder than in the cat flu complex, do not develop conjunctivitis.
Feline mycoplasma infection
Mycoplasma felis from the group of mycoplasmas calls forth a rare disease of the upper airways. Clinically, it manifests itself in a conjunctivitis and rhinitis. The infection may heal spontaneously after two to four weeks. Not clear yet is whether mycoplasmas act as the primary or only as a secondary pathogen. Also gatae Mycoplasma and Mycoplasma feliminutum are occasionally isolated from cats, their clinical significance is questionable.
Diagnosis
Since the individual diseases have many common clinical symptoms, the exact diagnosis is difficult. You can be assured only by laboratory tests. More information for the detection of bacterial pathogens can be found in the descriptions of the respective bacteria.
- Erregeranzüchtung from nasal or eye discharge or mucous samples for the detection of Bordetella bronchiseptica should be the swabs used to study in a special transport medium containing activated carbon, stored
- Immunofluorescence test for FHV-1, FCV serum
- Virus neutralization test on serum from FHV-1 and FCV
- PCR for FHV-1, FCV, Chlamydophila felis, Mycoplasma felis from dry throat or eye swab
- Real Time Quantitative PCR ( q- PCR, quantitative real-time PCR) to Chlamydophila felis and other animal pathogenic Chlamydophila species
Therapy
The treatment of viral infections is symptomatic and aims to prevent secondary bacterial infections from (antibiotics). The administration of immunoglobulins or feline interferon to combat the virus itself. In Feline Chlamydophila felis pneumonitis by tetracyclines are displayed locally and systemically over three to four weeks. Chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones are also effective, but potential risks for the mostly young animals need in their use ( chloramphenicol: aplastic anemia, fluoroquinolone: cartilage growth disorders ) must be carefully weighed. Mycoplasmas can also be treated with tetracyclines (eg doxycycline), chloramphenicol, and fluoroquinolones.
Prophylaxis
More effective than the treatment of disease is the prevention by vaccination. The guideline for the vaccination of small animals, which is issued by the Standing Committee on Vaccination Vet, immunization against rhinotracheitis ( feline herpes virus) and feline calicivirus as the cause of cat flu, as well as against feline panleukopenia virus ( pathogens of panleukopenia, " feline distemper " ) strongly recommended. The authority referred to in the virus designations with RCP vaccination is considered by the Standing Committee on Vaccination Vet as so-called core component, " be protected against each animal at any time must ". The first injection takes place in the eighth week of life, a resilient vaccination is achieved by the boosters in the twelfth and sixteenth week of life. After primary immunization booster shots must be made. Depending on the circumstances of the animal this done according to a latest three years.
In addition to vaccines against viral infections, there is also a live attenuated vaccine for prophylaxis against bacterial infection by Chlamydophila felis. So that an infection is not excluded, but the symptoms significantly reduced. In addition, in Germany for several combination products are approved, which also contain components against the viruses inactivated Chlamydophila felis already mentioned beside strains. Since 2002, a vaccine for cats against Bordetella bronchiseptica is approved in Germany. The monovalent preparation called Nobivac Bb is a live vaccine, containing the bacterial strain Bordetella bronchiseptica B -C2, and intranasal, that is administered through the nose. Vaccination against bacterial pathogens are recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination Vet, if more animals are kept in a confined space, such as a shelter or a cattery. Vaccination against Bordetella bronchiseptica is also to consider, if the cat has close contact with dogs, rabbits or other animals that may also be infected by this parasite.