Feline calicivirus infection. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.
BACKGROUND
Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a highly variable virus. More severe, systemic forms of FCV infection have been observed recently.


BACKGROUND
Sick, acutely infected or carrier cats shed FCV in oronasal and conjunctival secretions. Infection occurs mainly through direct contact.


METHODS
The main clinical signs are oral ulcers, upper respiratory signs and a high fever. Feline calicivirus may be isolated from nearly all cats with chronic stomatitis or gingivitis. Cats with 'virulent systemic FCV disease' variably show pyrexia, cutaneous oedema, ulcerative lesions on the head and limbs, and jaundice. Mortality is high and the disease is more severe in adult cats.


METHODS
Diagnosis of FCV can be achieved by virus isolation or reverse-transcriptase PCR. Viral RNA can be detected in conjunctival and oral swabs, blood, skin scrapings or lung tissue using PCR. Positive PCR results should be interpreted with caution, as these may be a consequence of low-level shedding by persistently infected carriers. The diagnosis of virulent systemic FCV disease relies on clinical signs and isolation of the same strain from the blood of several diseased cats.


METHODS
Supportive therapy (including fluid therapy) and good nursing care are essential. Anorexic cats should be fed highly palatable, blended or warmed food. Mucolytic drugs (eg, bromhexine) or nebulisation with saline may offer relief. Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be administered to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Feline calicivirus can persist in the environment for about 1 month and is resistant to many common disinfectants.


CONCLUSIONS
Two injections, at 9 and 12 weeks of age, are recommended, followed by a first booster 1 year later. In high-risk situations, a third vaccination at 16 weeks is recommended. Boosters should be given every 3 years. However, cats in high-risk situations should be revaccinated annually. Cats that have recovered from caliciviral disease are probably not protected for life, particularly if infected with different strains. Vaccination of these cats is still recommended.
Radford
Alan D
AD
European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD). alanrad@liv.ac.uk
Addie
Diane
D
Belák
Sándor
S
Boucraut-Baralon
Corine
C
Egberink
Herman
H
Frymus
Tadeusz
T
Gruffydd-Jones
Tim
T
Hartmann
Katrin
K
Hosie
Margaret J
MJ
Lloret
Albert
A
Lutz
Hans
H
Marsilio
Fulvio
F
Pennisi
Maria Grazia
MG
Thiry
Etienne
E
Truyen
Uwe
U
Horzinek
Marian C
MC
D000818:Animals; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012952:Societies; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D017201:Virus Shedding