Calicivirus infection in cats: symptoms and treatment

Many human diseases are also common in animals. Calicivirus is not one of these; it doesn't affect humans, dogs, or other domestic animals; it only affects cats. This acute viral disease is considered dangerous: without prompt treatment, the mortality rate can reach up to 30%. Kittens under one year of age, as well as cats with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses, are at risk. If you have a feline in your home, you should know how the virus is transmitted, how to avoid infection, what symptoms indicate the disease's progression, and how it is treated.

Pathogen and routes of infection

Feline calicivirus infection affects the upper respiratory tract and is caused by the RNA-containing feline calicivirus. When a cat is infected with feline calicivirus, the incubation period lasts up to three weeks, which is also the duration of the disease itself. Cats that recover from the infection develop strong immunity to the disease. Most veterinarians believe that immunity to the virus persists for the animal's entire life.

Feline calicivirus infection is transmitted by contact and airborne droplets. The largest amounts of feline calicivirus are found in the oral, nasal, and ocular secretions of an infected animal. These secretions easily contaminate the infected cat's fur, grooming items, furniture, and clothing of people in the room. Fecal and urine contain smaller amounts of the virus, but this method of spread is not considered the primary method.

This infectious agent can survive in the environment for several days to four weeks, depending on humidity, and is quite resistant to temperature and pH changes. If your cat doesn't go outside or come into contact with other cats, the risk of contracting calicivirus infection is virtually zero. Of course, it's possible that you petted or handled another infected animal and transmitted the virus to your pet.

Symptoms of calicivirus

The primary clinical signs of this viral disease are profuse salivation, serous discharge from the eyes and nose, coughing, and sneezing. Lethargy and fever are observed, and the temperature can rise to 39-40°C. Feline calicivirus primarily affects the epithelium of the oral mucosa and upper respiratory tract, causing cats to develop gingivitis, stomatitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, and laryngitis. Blisters of varying shapes and sizes appear on the tongue, palate, and tip of the nose, quickly rupturing, developing ulcers and erosions.

In severe cases, the virus, by infecting blood vessel cells, lung tissue, and other internal organs, can cause pneumonia, hepatitis, pancreatitis, and even intestinal or nasal bleeding. With this generalized form of calicivirus infection, more than half of the animals die.

This is important to know! In kittens, symptoms of calicivirus progress very rapidly: shortness of breath, rapid breathing, refusal to eat, diarrhea, and vomiting. In such cases, only immediate, adequate treatment can save your pet's life.

Diagnostics

To diagnose a cat with calicivirus infection, medical history, symptoms, and a veterinary examination are not enough. Many of the signs of calicivirus infection are also typical for other diseases:

• herpes (pathogen - cytomegalovirus);
• panleukopenia (pathogen - parvovirus);
• rabies (pathogen - Rabies virus);
• chlamydia (causative agent of infection Chlamydia trachomatis);
• stomatitis (pathogens - Kosaki virus, streptococci, staphylococci).

To establish a differential diagnosis, laboratory tests are prescribed for the cat. The primary diagnostic test for confirming the diagnosis is a serological test for antibodies against feline calicivirus. A complete blood count is also performed. Calicivirus infection in cats is characterized by severe anemia (a 25-30% reduction in hemoglobin levels) and lymphopenia (a deficiency of white blood cells called lymphocytes).

Treatment

Treatment for feline calicivirus infection primarily involves symptomatic measures aimed at reducing fever and eliminating inflammation in the mouth, bronchi, and mucous membranes of the eyes. Treatment is usually carried out at home; the cat is hospitalized if severe pneumonia develops. Medications for internal or external use are selected by a veterinarian, based on the location and extent of the infection. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ketofen orLoxicom".

To destroy the virus, specific immunoglobulin is prescribed without fail.Vitafel"obtained from the blood of hyperimmunized cats, or preparations of the same type "Immunofan", "Fosprenil"To suppress secondary infections, which easily develop in a weakened cat's body, broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as Flemoxin) are used, as well as vitamin and mineral complexes with an emphasis on vitamins A, E, and B.

If the disease is severe and the cat is unable to eat or drink, it is given intravenous fluids, and to prevent dehydration, subcutaneous injections of saline solutions (sodium chloride, glucose, or Ringer's solution) are given several times a day.

Important! Cats that have recovered from calicivirus infection are considered carriers of the virus for at least a month. During this time, the fully recovered cat should be isolated from other cats.

Prevention of calicivirus in cats

The main measures to prevent the disease are considered to be minimizing the animal's contact, observing hygiene rules by the owner (washing hands after "communication" with other cats), and timely vaccination of the pet.

To develop active immunity against feline calicivirus, cats are vaccinated. Combination vaccines against calicivirus, feline distemper (panleukopenia), and viral rhinotracheitis: «Nobivac Tricket«, «Multifel-4"Felovax." The first vaccination is recommended for kittens at 1.5 months of age, and then repeated annually. When introducing a new cat to the household, it should be kept separate from other cats for a month, after which it should be vaccinated against calicivirus infection.

Vaccination cannot provide a 100% guarantee that a cat will not become ill, as there are several strains of feline calicivirus, and the vaccine does not cover all of them. However, vaccination significantly reduces the risk of infection, and if an infection does develop, the illness will be mild and uncomplicated.

Read:

• Why does a cat cough?
• What should you do if your cat is breathing heavily with its mouth open?
• Pulmonary edema in cats