What types of infections do cats have and how to treat them?

No matter how much we love our pets, alas, our love is not always able to protect them from one or another disease. There are many ailments that can affect a cat’s body, and the staff of the Murkosha shelter decided to devote today’s article to one of the most common ones – feline infections. After all, it is infections in all their diversity that, in the absence of proper treatment, can cause irreparable damage to the health of a tailed pet.

1) What are infectious diseases of cats and what can cause them?

2) Are all cats susceptible to infections: risk factors

3) Viral infections

4) Bacterial and fungal infections

5) Prevention of infections

What are infectious diseases of cats and what can cause them?

To better understand the nature of infectious diseases, it is worth starting with the definition of the term “infection” itself. Infection is the infection of living organisms by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa). Accordingly, infectious diseases are a group of diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and prions into the body. In order for a pathogenic microbe to cause an infectious disease, it must have virulence, or, moving away from medical terminology, toxicity. That is, the ability to overcome the body’s resistance and exhibit toxic effects.

A distinctive feature of infectious diseases is the presence of an incubation period, that is, the period from the moment of infection until the appearance of the first clinical signs. The duration of this period depends on the method of infection, the type of pathogen and can last from several hours to several years. In other words, it is sometimes impossible for a long time to understand that a cat that has contracted an infection is sick, but sometimes it is quite the opposite - a cat that looked healthy just a few hours ago may now show signs of one or another infectious disease.

The most common microorganisms that cause infections in cats include the following: bacteria, microscopic fungi, viruses, rickettsia, mycoplasma. All of them, by their presence in the animal’s body, can cause significant damage to the latter, this is especially true in the case when the necessary treatment is prescribed late or not prescribed at all.

CAT SCRATCH DISEASE

Despite the fact that the first clinical description of cat scratch disease (CSD) was given by R. Debre et al. more than 50 years ago, the question of the etiology of this disease still remains the subject of debate and special research. Since it was not possible to isolate the pathogen from patients for a long time, a viral or chlamydial etiology of the disease was initially assumed. The first convincing information about the identification of the causative agent of BCC was obtained only in 1983, when researchers, using the Warthin-Starry staining method (silvering method), found small polymorphic gram-negative bacilli in the tissue of the affected lymph nodes in 29 out of 34 patients with BCC, which could be cultured only in 1988. It was this microorganism that was initially recognized as the causative agent of BCC and was named Alipia felis.

However, numerous subsequent studies did not confirm a clear relationship between the development of BCC and A. felis: in most cases, not only was the pathogen not detected in the affected tissues of patients, but antibodies to it were not detected in the blood serum either. Moreover, another pathogen, Bartonella henselae, was isolated from the tissue of the affected lymph nodes. By PCR using specific primers for Bartonella spp. and A. felis in patients who skin tested positive for BCC, it was found that Bartonella DNA was detected in 96% of cases, while A. felis DNA was not detected in any case (A. Bergmans et al., 1995). Similar data confirming the key role of B. henselae in the development of BCC were obtained by other researchers using an indirect reaction of fluorescent antibodies.

At the same time, the initial fact of detection of A. felis in the affected lymph nodes should not be ignored. Today, some researchers admit that A. felis is capable of causing a disease that, in its clinical picture, may resemble BCC.

Cat scratch disease (benign lymphoreticulosis) belongs to the group of bartonellosis and is characterized as a mild self-limited disease with the development of unilateral lymphadenitis, regional in relation to the site of inoculation of the pathogen, and only in rare cases is dissemination of the pathogen possible with damage to the central nervous system and visceral organs.

B. henselae is characterized as a small pleomorphic, gram-negative bacillus, very demanding in terms of cultivation conditions (it grows only on media with 5% blood agar at a temperature of 35 to 37 ° C, with 5-10% carbon dioxide and 40% humidity). In addition, colonies of the primary culture grow slowly and become visible only after 9-15 days of growth. With subsequent passage, colony growth accelerates. Identification of the isolated pathogen is carried out using specific antisera, determination of the fatty acid profile of the cell wall, or molecular genetic methods. Using this method, two genotypes of B. henselae were identified, although a clear relationship between the genotypes of the pathogen and the characteristics of the clinical course of the diseases they cause has not yet been established.

B. henselae is currently considered as the main causative agent of BCC, however, in 5-15% of patients with a diagnosis established on the basis of clinical and epidemiological data, even using existing modern laboratory diagnostic methods, the etiological significance of B. henselae in the development of the disease is not confirmed.

One of the inexplicable paradoxes associated with B. henselae: in recent years, it has been established that this pathogen is responsible for the development of not only BCC, but also some other diseases.

BCC has a wide geographic distribution and is found almost everywhere. The main natural reservoir of B. henselae is cats, whose infection largely determines the prevalence of BCC (KM Zangwill et al., 1993). According to some researchers, more than 50% of domestic and wild cats have bacteremia due to B. henselae. A study conducted in the USA found that the highest percentage of infection of cats and, accordingly, the incidence of BCC among people is recorded in the southern states. Most researchers emphasize the special role of kittens in the transmission of the pathogen, pointing out that B. henselae bacteremia is rarely detected in adult cats due to the presence of specific antibodies in them, indicating the duration of their infection. A feature of the course of bartonellosis in cats is its duration (months, years) and asymptomaticity (even in the case of confirmed bacteremia).

Fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) play an exceptional role in the circulation of B. henselae among cats. It was experimentally established that in the absence of fleas, infection of healthy cats does not occur.

B. henselae is found in flea intestines and feces for up to 9 days after infection, indicating its replication and persistence in fleas. In addition, the possibility of infection of cats by intradermal inoculation of infected flea feces was experimentally established, while oral administration of infected fleas and their feces to cats did not lead to seroconversion. The role of fleas in the transmission of the pathogen from cats to humans is currently not categorically denied. In recent years, researchers in the USA and Italy (YO Sanogo et al., 2003) have used molecular genetic methods to demonstrate that B. henselae DNA can be detected in ixodid ticks, although their role as a vector for the transmission of BCC is still unknown.

“Traumatic” contact with cats (scratches, bites) is very typical for BCC and is observed in more than 90% of cases. It has been established that dogs can also be a “reservoir” for B. henselae, but no reliably confirmed cases of human infection from them have yet been described.

Epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 20% of cat owners and 3–4% of the general human population have antibodies to B. henselae in the serum. Familial cases of BCC are not so typical and are reported in less than 5% of patients. Although BCC can develop at any age, young people (under 18 years of age) are most often affected.

Transmission of the causative agent of BCC occurs mainly through contact through scratches, bites or saliva of infected cats. An increase in incidence is usually observed from the end of summer, which is explained by the peculiarities of the life cycle of cats and fleas.

Since the causative agent of BCC was identified relatively recently, many aspects regarding the pathogenesis of the disease are still not well understood. The nature of the developing infectious process caused by the action of B. henselae largely depends on the immune status of the person: in cases where the disease develops in immunocompetent patients, there is no dissemination of the pathogen, and the process is predominantly limited to local or regional lesions. In particular, BCC in most cases is manifested by the development of regional lymphadenopathy. Damage to visceral organs has been described only in isolated cases (Dunn et al., 1997), and bacteremia in immunocompetent patients has been reported extremely rarely (Slater et al., 1990). In contrast, in immunocompromised patients, B. henselae infection typically develops bacteremia and other systemic lesions, including bacillary angiomatosis and bacillary peliosis hepatitis, and in individuals with congenital and acquired heart valve abnormalities, endocarditis (Raoult et al., 1996).

Histological changes in the affected lymph nodes are characterized by proliferation of histiocytes and B-lymphocytes, leading to the formation of granulomas followed by neutrophilic infiltration and the development of central or stellate necrosis.

Although B. henselae is considered one of the most likely causative agents of BCC, nevertheless, according to modern observations, this pathogen is responsible for the development of a number of other human pathological conditions (Table 1). At the same time, the immune status of patients is considered as a key factor determining the nature of the developing disease, although there are cases where even in people with HIV infection in the AIDS stage, BCC proceeded in a typical form.

The incubation period in patients with BCC can vary quite widely - from 3 to 20 days or more, averaging 1-2 weeks. Although there is no generally accepted clinical classification of BCC, typical and atypical forms of the disease are most often distinguished (Table 2), which is determined by the syndrome complex that dominates the clinical picture of the disease.

In typical cases, BCC is manifested by the development of primary affect and regional (to the site of the entry gate of infection) lymphadenitis. The localization of the primary affect is determined by the place of primary inoculation of the pathogen, namely the place where the cat scratches and bites. After several days (from 3 to 10), when the skin damage caused by the cat is already healing, a papule forms at the entrance gate, which, as a rule, transforms into a vesicle and then into a pustule, and after opening - into an ulcer covered with a crust. In some cases, the pustule may dry out without forming an ulcer. In diameter, the size of the developing papule usually ranges from 1–2 to 5 mm. The frequency of detection of primary affect in patients with BCC, according to various researchers, can range from 25 to 94%. Skin manifestations persist for 1-3 weeks and resolve spontaneously.

Regional lymphadenitis is one of the most constant and characteristic clinical signs of BCC (Table 3) and persists for a long time: from 7 to 60 days, and in some cases up to 1 year or even 3 years. In most cases, lymphadenitis resolves within 1-4 months. Often it turns out to be practically the only manifestation of BCC. In most cases (85%), single lymph nodes are detected in patients, less often multiple, within the boundaries of one anatomical region. Despite the fact that patients experience enlargement of the lymph nodes that drain the site of primary inoculation of the pathogen, the development of lymphangitis is not typical for BCC. In 1/3 of patients, enlarged lymph nodes of different anatomical regions can be detected, although generalized lymphadenopathy is quite rare. The size of enlarged lymph nodes is often from 1 to 5 cm, in some cases up to 8-10 cm. When palpated, the lymph nodes are moderately painful. Although they are not fused with the surrounding tissues, hyperemia of the skin over them is often detected. In 10-50% of cases, patients with BCC develop suppuration of the affected lymph nodes with the formation of thick yellow-green pus. In some cases, when inoculating pus on nutrient media, it is possible to obtain the growth of staphylococci and other flora, although the role of opportunistic flora (superinfection) in the suppuration of the affected lymph nodes has not yet been established.

The general condition of patients in most cases remains satisfactory. Only in a third of cases do patients experience an increase in body temperature above 38.3°C, which persists for about a week and only sometimes can drag on for up to a month or more. Other clinical manifestations of BCC may include: weakness and malaise (30%), headache (14%), nausea and vomiting (15%), splenomegaly (11%). If the disease lasts for a long time, patients may experience weight loss. Often the disease takes on a wavy course.

Eye damage (ocular variant) with BCC is recorded when the site of inoculation of the pathogen is the mucous membrane of the eyes. Clinical manifestations of the disease in this case will include the development of unilateral lesions in the form of ulcerative granulomatous conjunctivitis, eyelid edema and preauricular lymphadenopathy (Parinaud syndrome). At the same time, patients may experience moderately enlarged and painful parotid and cervical lymph nodes. Other ocular manifestations of BCC include neuroretinitis, optic neuritis, and papillitis. Neuroretinitis is typically characterized by unilateral acute impairment of visual acuity, which develops against the background of moderately severe symptoms of intoxication. Examination of the fundus may reveal hemorrhages, multiple discrete lesions, cotton wool-like formations, swelling and exudation of the optic nipple (the “macular star” symptom) (JB Reed et al., 1998).

Damage to the nervous system (neurological variant) in patients with BCC is rarely detected (~2% of cases), although the range of clinical manifestations is very diverse: patients may exhibit radiculitis, polyneuritis, myelitis, encephalopathy, encephalitis, meningitis and cerebral ataxia. A characteristic sign of damage to the nervous system in BCC is that they develop 1-6 weeks (usually 2-3 weeks) from the onset of lymphadenopathy. The development of encephalitis and meningitis is typically characterized by a sudden deterioration in the patient's condition, accompanied by fever, headache, confusion and disorientation. In some cases, the condition may progressively worsen, leading to the development of coma. In the cerebrospinal fluid of such patients, mononuclear pleocytosis is detected. Only in isolated cases may patients experience residual effects after encephalitis.

Some authors (PM Delahoussaye, BM Osborne, 1990), pointing to the possibility of damage to the liver and spleen in BCC, identify a visceral variant of the disease, which is characterized by prolonged undulating fever, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, an increase in serum levels of aminotransferases, with determination at Ultrasound and computed tomography of multiple, diffuse, hypoechoic defects. Quite often, such patients have generalized lymphadenopathy.

In addition, in more rare cases, patients with BCC may have splenic abscess, pleurisy, endocarditis, pneumonia, erythema nodosum, thrombocytopenic purpura, osteomyelitis (B. Dzelalija et al., 2001, CV Hulzebos et al., 1999).

In typical cases, the primary diagnosis of BCC does not present much difficulty, since it is based on characteristic clinical and epidemiological data (Table 4).

There are certain difficulties in laboratory verification of the diagnosis, which is due to the lack of appropriate laboratory facilities. In foreign practice, for a long time, a skin test was used as the main diagnostic criterion for BCC, in which heat-inactivated punctate obtained from the lymph nodes of patients with a diagnosis of BCC was established (in accordance with accepted criteria) as an allergen. According to many authors, the effectiveness of such a test reached 95-98%, however, due to the risk of transmission of bloodborne infections, the use of this test is limited, and a skin test using purified B. henselae antigens has not yet been described.

Microbiological studies are not used in widespread practice due to the duration (from 2 to 6 weeks) and the complexity of the analysis.

A fairly informative way to establish a diagnosis is a biopsy of papules and/or affected lymph nodes followed by histological examination (staining of sections with hematoxylin-eosin and silver - Warthin-Starry method), which allows one to identify characteristic histological signs of the lesion and the accumulation of small pleomorphic bacteria.

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the development of specific immunological (ELISA) and molecular genetic (identification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of B. henselae) methods for detecting the causative agent of BCC in a patient’s biopsy material, although they are still not available for widespread practice.

Differential diagnosis must be made with diseases accompanied by the development of lymphadenopathy (Table 5).

Despite the fact that in rare cases, severe variants of BCC are observed, the prognosis of the disease is favorable in immunocompetent individuals. No recurrent cases or deaths have been described.

Numerous clinical observations show that in most cases, BCC occurs as a self-limiting infection, and the use of antibacterial therapy does not have a significant effect on its course. Traditional recommendations for the use of erythromycin (erythromycin-teva, zinerit) and doxycycline (unidox solutab, medomycin, vibramycin, tetradox) are based on the effectiveness of these drugs in patients with HIV infection with the development of bacillary angiomatosis caused by Bartonella quintana, while in patients with BCC therapeutic The effectiveness of these drugs has not been confirmed in any study. The data on the correspondence between the in vitro sensitivity of the BCC pathogen to antibacterial drugs and their clinical effectiveness remain very contradictory. The only antibacterial drug whose clinical effectiveness has been established in a randomized placebo-controlled trial is azithromycin (sumamed, hemomycin, azivok, sumazid), prescribed for 5-10 days. In uncontrolled studies (AM Margileth, 1992) of 18 antimicrobial drugs, clinical effectiveness was established only with the use of rifampicin (Benemycin, r-cin), ciprofloxacin (cyprosan, tsifran, ciprova), gentamicin (gentamicin K, gentamicin sulfate) and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (bactrim , septrin). Antibacterial drugs for BCC should be used in immunocompromised individuals and in severe cases of the disease, accompanied by damage to the nervous system and visceral organs.

If fluctuations are detected in the affected lymph node, puncture and aspiration of pus are required, which accelerates the subsequent process of sclerosis and scarring of the lymph node tissue and ultimately affects the patient’s recovery.

For questions regarding literature, please contact the editor.

V. A. Malov , Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor A. N. Gorobchenko , Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of MMA named after. I. M. Sechenova, Moscow

Are all cats susceptible to infections: risk factors

Experts are often asked whether all animals are at risk of contracting infectious diseases? Unfortunately, practice shows that cats with 100% immunity to all infectious diseases do not exist. This means that the presence of one or more risk factors is likely to lead to the animal getting sick. Such factors include crowded housing of cats that does not meet zoohygienic standards, poor quality food, and contact with a sick animal or hidden microbial carrier. Stress is also an important risk factor - it is stress that weakens the pet’s immunity and makes the cat susceptible to various types of infections. In other words, any factors that negatively affect its condition can increase a cat’s susceptibility to infections, thereby weakening the animal’s body.

Modern medicine has revealed that a kitten can catch an infection in a variety of ways: through damaged outer skin, the digestive tract, and the respiratory tract. The most dangerous route of spread is direct, direct contact between a susceptible animal and a sick animal. Infectious diseases are also transmitted through the air. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor your pet’s condition and protect it from possible risk factors, thereby reducing the likelihood of disease.

Viral infections

Infectious diseases are usually divided into viral, fungal and bacterial infections, depending on the pathogen. The most common viral infections in cats include the following:

Panleukopenia (parvovirus enteritis or “feline distemper”). Panleukopenia is a dangerous disease that poisons the animal’s body. This virus is very stable and can remain active outside the body for months and even years. Transmission of the infection to a cat occurs through direct contact, through feces, through people and any contaminated objects.

Panleukopenia is an extremely contagious disease with an incubation period of 3 to 12 days. The virus infects cells of the bone marrow, small intestinal mucosa and lymphoid tissues. Symptoms of infection are vomiting, diarrhea, a drop in the number of white blood cells, and high fever (over 40º C). Since the disease is extremely severe, death is recorded in more than 50% of cases. Panleukopenia can occur both in a mild form (the cat copes with the infection within a week and recovers), and in a severe form, when the disease develops hyperacutely and the animal dies in the very first days or even hours after the appearance of alarming symptoms (refusal to eat, drink, high temperature, apathy). The main risk group is kittens under 3 months, although adult animals are also susceptible to the disease.

Treatment for panleukopenia is only supportive: saline solution to prevent dehydration, vitamins, glucose. After an infection, the cat develops a strong immune system.

Read more: What is panleukopenia in cats?

Coronaviruses. There are many types of coronaviruses. Most of them cause only short-term diarrhea in kittens, but there are also strains that cause dangerous and often fatal illnesses. Small kittens are primarily susceptible to coronavirus. The virus attacks the lining of the small intestine, resulting in diarrhea. However, the first sign is vomiting, and only then it turns into diarrhea, which lasts 2-4 days. After this, either the death of the animal or recovery occurs. However, even after complete recovery, it remains a carrier of the virus, which means it is potentially dangerous to its relatives.

Feline enteritis, as it is also called, is transmitted from individual to individual. The sources of infection are the feces of sick carriers. Moreover, it is not only the trays themselves that pose a danger. These also include scoops and care items, as well as toys. Veterinary experts note that the course of the disease can be different, that is, a kitten can get sick with an infection at an early age and then remain an asymptomatic carrier for some time; in another case, the disease can take a chronic form and remind itself throughout the pet’s life with periodic diarrhea and vomiting. In the most severe cases, the virus can mutate into a severe form - infectious peritonitis. It is this severe form of the disease that is not transmitted from animal to animal, but develops in a specific organism and leads to death in almost 100% of cases.

As for methods of treating coronavirus, the main thing here is not to make the disease worse. With the first symptoms, you should immediately contact the clinic, where a specialist, after receiving a complete picture of the disease, will select the appropriate therapy, which may include antiviral drugs and immunomodulators. In some cases, antibiotics and corticosteroids are additionally used. Proper care and concern, symptomatic treatment - all this together gives a good chance of recovery.

Read more about coronavirus: Symptoms and treatment of feline coronavirus

Calcivirosis. Calcivirus infection of cats (calcivirus rhinotracheitis) is an acute disease characterized by predominantly damage to the respiratory system and oral cavity. The causative agent of the disease is a small RNA virus belonging to the Picornaviridae family.

Infection of a cat occurs through nutritional means, through direct contact, aerogenously, through clothing and grooming items. The source of the disease is sick animals. The virus is released through discharge from the oral and nasal cavities, with tear secretions, feces and urine for several months. The main symptoms include fever, serous discharge from the nose and eyes, stomatitis, expressed in the presence of pustules or aphthae in the oral cavity, profuse salivation due to stomatitis, in kittens – viral pneumonia, laryngotracheitis. With generalized damage, ulcers appear on the head and limbs, skin swelling, accompanied by severe fever.

Treatment consists of preventing secondary bacterial infection, as well as a combination of symptomatic and replacement therapy. With this approach to treatment, the animal’s body is forced to cope with the infectious agent on its own with the help of the immune system. However, due to the advent of modern drugs, etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy for calcivirus infection in cats has become possible.

Read about this disease: Symptoms and treatment of calcivirosis in cats

Feline immunodeficiency (FIC). Another fairly common viral infection characterized by damage to the animal’s immune system. The source of infection for a kitten is sick animals (high concentration of the virus in saliva and blood), bites of blood-sucking insects, and possible intrauterine infection from mother to fetus. The first signs of the disease appear after 3-6 weeks: exhaustion, fever, enlarged lymph nodes. Next, the disease enters a latent period, which can last from 3 months to 5 years, after which the phenomena of chronic immunodeficiency gradually increase. It is impossible to cure this disease, but this does not mean that the pet cannot be helped. Treatment of FIV in cats is based on preventing secondary infections and reducing the severity of clinical infections. Antibiotics are often used, the correct regimen for which can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Experts note: despite the fact that the symptoms of infectious diseases in cats are different, many of them are still characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and infection of a healthy pet is more likely to occur from a sick relative.

Read more about FIV: Immunodeficiency in cats: what to do

What do you need to know about cat infections?

Infectious diseases in cats often have quite clear symptoms; each has its own clinical picture, however, the main signs are often similar.

It can be:

• lethargic and depressed state
• refusal to eat regardless of the stress factor
• Gastrointestinal disorders (manifested by diarrhea and vomiting)
• increased or decreased body temperature
• unkempt coat, dull, dry and disheveled
• purulent or mucous discharge from the nose, eyes or mouth
• swollen lymph nodes

Particularly dangerous viruses

Panleukopenia

In common parlance it's cat distemper, sir. A very dangerous transient parvovirus infection that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract with severe bacterial complications.

Not contagious to humans, only dangerous to cats. It is characterized by high mortality, contagiousness and rapid progression, especially in young cats and kittens. Mortality among kittens 2-3 months of age reaches up to 90%.

The incubation period usually lasts from 2 to 14 days. This means that clinical signs of the disease can appear within two weeks after the virus enters the cat's body.

1. Symptoms can be acute or less pronounced:

• lethargy and apathy
• an increase in body temperature to 41C°, and with increasing intoxication of the body, on the contrary, a decreased temperature is observed
• loss of appetite and weight
• painful stomach
• severe, debilitating vomiting
• severe diarrhea, often bloody
• severe dehydration, resulting in rough, dry hair
• leukopenia (a sharp drop in white blood cells)
• sometimes anemia

Also characteristic external signs may be:

• the appearance of a visible third eyelid in the inner corner of the eye.
• a hunched position over a bowl, while the cat cannot eat or drink.

As a rule, symptoms develop suddenly and quickly, so owners may mistakenly consider the onset of this infection to be a sign of poisoning. If you waste time and do not provide qualified assistance to a sick animal, irreversible disorders develop in the body, which lead to death. Rarely, a subclinical (asymptomatic) form of the disease is possible, accompanied by the formation of immunity and self-healing.

Forget about folk recipes - panleukopenia (distemper) cannot be treated with vodka or eggs!

2. Treatment of the acute form of the disease consists of providing symptomatic supportive therapy so that the body can produce a sufficient amount of its own antibodies to neutralize the virus. Maintenance therapy consists of certain antibiotics and antiprotozoal drugs to combat secondary bacterial complications, intravenous nutritional solutions to correct dehydration, vitamin supplements, antiemetics (anti-nausea and vomiting medications), relief of diarrhea, drugs to increase white blood cell counts, hemostatic drugs for bleeding , and much more, depending on the symptoms and severity of the course. In some cases, it is possible to connect immunostimulants and interferon inducers. Sometimes they resort to blood transfusions. The use of serum immunoglobulins is controversial, as these are drugs with unproven effectiveness. Therapy is prescribed and carried out by an experienced veterinarian under the control of the condition and monitoring of the animal’s blood tests! 3. The virus is transmitted through direct oral contact (through the mouth) with an infected cat or with its secretions - feces, urine, saliva, vomit. Can be transmitted through fleas, through contaminated household items and if hygiene is not observed: unwashed hands, clothes, shoes, trays, food and water, dishes, bedding, carrying, wall surfaces, floors, etc., as well as by airborne droplets in as a result of inhaling the virus through the nose with air.

4. Animals that have recovered from the disease acquire lifelong immunity to the virus, but can shed the virus in their feces for several months and be dangerous for unvaccinated cats. Therefore, a recently ill cat can infect her kittens after their colostral (maternal) immunity decreases.

5. The virus is species specific, but cats can become infected with a certain strain of parvovirus from dogs. And dogs can carry feline panleukopenia. Therefore, when parvovirus infection is detected, it is necessary to keep dogs and cats separate.

6. Pregnant cats should not be vaccinated with a “live” vaccine, so as not to infect the kittens in the womb. Abortion, stillbirth, or developmental failure of the kittens may occur.

7. The virus is very resistant to disinfectants and can survive in apartment conditions for up to 1 year. Infection occurs through contact with surfaces on which the virus remains.

8. Only vaccinated animals can be placed in an infected premises. Quarantine must be carried out strictly in a separate safe room, which can be easily disinfected and prevent the transmission of the virus on oneself or household items (preferably in a hospital hospital).

9. There is no seasonality of the disease; peaks of the disease are associated with the dynamics of the birth rate of kittens.

10. Vaccination with a complex vaccine is the only method of preventing feline panleukopenia, but no vaccine provides a 100% guarantee. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid self-walking, contact with unknown and sick cats, and keep the house clean. Stronger immunity is created by live (attenuated) vaccines. Only healthy cats can be vaccinated!

Diagnostic methods and results

PCR is considered the main method used for diagnosing panleukopenia. But it can capture the genome of even a non-living virus and its “fragments”, which can lead to errors in diagnosis. In addition, PCR tests, as a rule, take up to 3 days to prepare, and sometimes the result needs to be known on the spot, especially for kittens. However, the results are deciphered as follows:

• positive fecal PCR or rectal wash - the cat may have recently been vaccinated, may have already had the disease and continues to shed the virus, or clinical symptoms are about to begin. In any case, with such an analysis result, the cat is considered dangerous to unvaccinated relatives. Careful monitoring of the condition is required to provide timely assistance and isolation for quarantine. If there is no clinical picture, retake the test in a couple of weeks.
• positive blood PCR (rarely used) – the virus is in the body, careful monitoring of the animal’s condition is required to provide timely assistance and isolation for quarantine. If there is no clinical picture, retake the test in a couple of weeks.
• ICA (immunochromatographic analysis) is a rapid diagnostic test for the antigen titer corresponding to the pathology, that is, a positive result indicates the amount of live virus characteristic of the active form of the disease. Often, during diagnosis, express ICA + PCR (rectal wash) is combined for a more accurate and quick result; this is especially important for kittens, so as not to waste precious time.
• ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) - determines the level of antibody titer to the virus. It may show false positive results if the animal has immunity to the virus, for example, it has recently been vaccinated or has had panleukopenia.
• Negative results may be obtained during the incubation period (that is, during the quarantine period) and may be false negative. Negative tests with obvious clinical symptoms may be a mistake, or it is necessary to exclude differential (with similar symptoms) diagnoses, for example, poisoning, foreign body, severe helminthic infestation, leukemia, etc.

Feline viral leukemia

FLV, feline leukemia. A sluggish oncogenic retroviral infection that affects the bone marrow and, as a consequence, other body systems. Not contagious to humans, only dangerous to cats. According to foreign statistics, about 1% of domestic and 8% of street cats are infected; perhaps in Russia this figure is higher. The virus has not been fully studied, so the disease is very insidious and mysterious.

The incubation period ranges from a week to a month, depending on the cat's immunity. That is, approximately 4 weeks after infection, the virus appears in the blood. This moment is called viremia. Therefore, it is necessary to re-test cats for FLV after the end of quarantine and if there is a risk of infection. 1. Risk groups include:

• age: young cats and kittens are more vulnerable
• free access for the cat to the street and an uncontrolled circle of her communication and sexual contacts
• Unneutered free-roaming cats are very susceptible, as they fight for territory
• crowded keeping of large populations of cats with their constant direct contact - shelters, nurseries
• use for procreation with different females and males

2. Not every cat will become infected after exposure to the virus. If the cat does become infected, then leukemia in the initial stage lasts from 2 weeks to 4 months and occurs in a latent form, or is characterized by nonspecific symptoms. These include:

• increase in body temperature
• loss of appetite and weight
• lethargy
• swollen lymph nodes

Further, the disease has 3 development options:

• Abortive form (temporary viremia) - 20-30% of cases. In this case, the virus remains in saliva and blood for a short time (several months), then immunity to the virus develops and it is completely eliminated (from the Latin elimino - disposal, expulsion) from the body.
• Progressive (constant viremia) - 30-40% of cases. In this case, the virus remains in the blood and saliva for a long time (more than 16 weeks). Immunity to the virus does not develop, the disease progresses and the cat dies from concomitant diseases associated with VLK within a few months.
• Regressive (latent viremia) - 30-40% of cases. The virus disappears from the blood and saliva, but remains in the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. That is, the animal remains an asymptomatic carrier, sometimes for many years. However, in approximately 10% of these cats, the virus is reactivated due to decreased immunity, especially due to stress factors: changes or unfavorable living conditions, hypothermia, moving, renovations, new family members, etc. And symptoms of leukemia develop.

3. Clinical signs of leukemia are very varied and may not be associated with leukemia at all, which can significantly complicate diagnosis.

The virus has different strains and 3 main forms of influence on the body, which lead to:

• development of oncological diseases - various tumors, lymphosarcoma, etc.
• destruction of the bone marrow, and, as a consequence, the hematopoietic system (severe anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc.)
• destruction of the immune system, which is complicated by secondary infections and autoimmune reactions. From which chronic diseases of the respiratory system, mouth and gums, genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive diseases, parasitic skin diseases, and other systemic diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis often develop.

4. A large amount of the virus is present in the saliva of a sick cat, blood, in addition, the virus can be found in the feces, urine and milk of a nursing cat. The feline leukemia virus is unstable in the external environment and is easily destroyed by disinfectants, treatment with soap solutions, quickly dies when dried or heated, but can persist for some time in liquids.

5. The virus is transmitted only through close direct contact: through saliva during fights, licking, using shared bowls, litter trays, mating, contact with biological fluids of a sick cat, and transfusion of infected blood. Kittens almost always become infected from their mother - during childbirth, when the mother bites the umbilical cord, and also through milk. Infection from the mother in utero is questionable.

6. So far, no medicine has been found that will rid the body of the virus, but experimental drugs are used to inhibit the development of the virus. There is no single effective treatment for cats infected with FLV. Thus, treatment is symptomatic and aimed at eliminating clinical symptoms, secondary infections, improving well-being and preventing the spread of the virus in the body and to other cats. In no case should you use immunomodulators or immunostimulants on your own, as this can aggravate the course and speed of development of the disease.

7. Separate keeping of healthy and sick cats, including carriers of the virus, is required. It is unacceptable to let cats with VLK go outside. A cat with VLK should be the only cat in the house. It is not advisable to adopt a cat also suffering from FLV, since the strains of the virus are not determined and this can aggravate the disease.

8. The need for vaccination against leukemia often causes controversy among specialists. The VLK vaccine is an additional vaccine. Its use should be determined by the risk-benefit ratio. It is necessary to take into account the cat’s lifestyle and the risks of infection: does it go outside, is it used for reproduction, does it live in crowded conditions with a changing pride composition. Only animals without FLV in the body can be vaccinated.

General recommendations

The most important thing for cats with this disease, as in general, is good maintenance and absence of stress. Good nutrition, care, parasite prevention and no outside walking are necessary. The animal must be exposed to a minimum number of pathogenic microorganisms. Castration of cats with leukemia is necessary, since the stress from the constant production of sex hormones is higher, and the risk of developing cancer is even higher. Complex vaccination with great caution, only with “dead” vaccines, since a “live” vaccine can cause severe complications, while protection from such a vaccine is lower, and the risk of post-vaccination sarcoma is higher. Ideally, such cats should simply always stay at home. Such cats should be strictly limited from other cats, or be the only cats in the house. It is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene in the home. Avoid hypothermia. Visit veterinary clinics only when necessary and for routine tests. At the same time, in the clinic, the cat must always be placed on the table on its own towel or diaper and avoid contact with other animals in line.

Diagnostic methods and results

Leukemia is a very insidious and quite difficult viral infection to diagnose. Therefore, a combination of different laboratory research methods and repeated tests are needed about a month after the tests taken on the first day when you took the cat into quarantine. And in the case of a clinical picture and suspicion of VLK, a comprehensive diagnosis is necessary, which usually includes a general clinical and biochemical analysis of blood, urine, feces, ultrasound, radiography, and sometimes more complex procedures. The use of rapid ELISA tests is recommended.

A positive test for leukemia is NOT an indication for euthanasia!

• IHA - blood. It is considered one of the most reliable methods. A negative result is possible in a healthy animal, with a regressing (latent) form, and in the first 4 weeks of the disease, when the concentration of the virus antigen in the body has not yet reached the required level. A positive result means the animal is infected. If the clinical picture is unclear, the analysis should be repeated after 6 and another 10 weeks. It is extremely rare to have false positive results. In any case, if the result is positive, the cat should be isolated from direct contact with other cats and their household items, or be the only cat in the house. Double-checking by PCR method (RNA+DNA) is required.
• ELISA - blood. It is considered one of the most reliable methods. He has high sensitivity. Captures antibody titer. A positive result may indicate 2 options: the virus was in the body and left an immune trace. The virus is in the body at the moment and the immune system is actively responding to the virus. A negative result can have 2 interpretations: the test was taken too early (during the incubation period) and the body has not yet had time to respond to the presence of the virus. The virus is in the body in an active stage, but the immune system is not able to respond to it. Double-checking by PCR method (RNA+DNA) is required.
• RNA PCR - saliva, blood. A highly sensitive method used in the early stages of the disease. Capable of catching the virus when it has not yet integrated into the DNA of the host cell. At the same time, positive RNA also indicates the active reproduction of the built-in virus and the further development of the disease must be diagnosed several more times at intervals of 6 and 10 weeks. If PCR RNA is not detected in the blood, this does not indicate the absence of the virus in the body. Not available in all laboratories. It is useful to combine with DNA PCR + ICA/ELISA.
• DNA PCR - blood. Highly sensitive method. A positive result indicates that the virus has integrated into the DNA of the host cell. Further development of the disease must be diagnosed several more times at intervals of 6 and 10 weeks. In this case, false positive and false negative results may occur. However, if the result is positive, the cat should be isolated from direct contact with other cats and their household items, or be the only cat in the house. If the PCR is negative, but the clinical picture corresponds to the disease, an ICA is additionally taken. It is useful to combine with RNA PCR + ICA/ELISA.
• Viral load is used to assess the concentration of the virus itself in the blood. Causes controversial opinions among experts. Interpreted using conventional laboratory values.

Feline immunodeficiency virus

FIV, feline HIV. A sluggish retroviral infection that affects the immune system. Not contagious to humans, only dangerous to cats. The infection is in many ways similar in course to human HIV. Unlike the feline leukemia virus, carriage of the immunodeficiency virus is lifelong. But the virus is much less aggressive. According to foreign statistics, the prevalence rate among clinically healthy cats is approximately 2%, in clinically sick cats from 14% to 30%. In Russia these numbers may be higher. The virus is also not fully understood.

The incubation period after infection is usually about a month and for about another month the body produces antibodies that can be detected in the blood. That is, approximately 2 months after infection. Therefore, it is necessary to retest FIV tests for cats that have been at risk of infection.

1. Risk groups include:

• age: young cats and kittens are more vulnerable
• free access for the cat to the street and an uncontrolled circle of her communication and sexual contacts
• Unneutered free-roaming cats are very susceptible, as they fight for territory
• crowded keeping of large populations of cats with their constant direct contact - shelters, nurseries
• use for procreation with different females and males

2. Most symptoms of viral immunodeficiency are not directly related to the virus, and are often completely absent. The first signs of the disease can have varying degrees of severity. These include:

• increase in body temperature
• loss of appetite and weight
• lethargy
• swollen lymph nodes The cat may then go months or years without symptoms associated with the infection. This is due to the strong immunity of the animal, and in some cases the asymptomatic period continues in infected pets throughout their lives. As the disease progresses, the immune response is suppressed and secondary infections appear, which often recur:
• oral diseases
• respiratory diseases
• fungal and parasitic skin infections
• gastrointestinal disorders
• cystitis
• otitis
• eye lesions
• enlarged spleen
• swollen lymph nodes
• neurological disorders
• neoplasms and lymphomas - uncommon
• Leukopenia, lymphopenia, anemia, neutropenia, etc. are observed in the blood.

3. The virus is transmitted only through close direct contact: through saliva during fights, licking, when using shared bowls, litter trays, possibly during mating, through contact with the biological fluids of a sick cat, through an infected blood transfusion.
Kittens do not always become infected from their mother. They may not become infected at all, or not all kittens may become infected. But an FIV-infected cat or tom must be removed from breeding. Infection occurs during childbirth, when the mother bites the umbilical cord, and also through milk. Infection from the mother in utero is questionable. 4. The virus is contained in the blood, saliva, milk and other biological fluids of a sick animal. The virus is unstable in the external environment and does not tolerate direct sunlight and drying; it is easily destroyed by all known antiseptics, even soap solution.

5. Kittens from infected cats receive colostral antibodies through their milk and may give false-positive antibody test results for up to 6 months. Therefore, a kitten with positive antibody results should have the test repeated after 6 months. If the positive result remains at six months of age, the kitten is infected.

6. Treatment is mainly aimed at maintaining immunity and general body tone in order to prolong the active life of a sick cat as long as possible. Therapy for feline viral immunodeficiency, like therapy for leukemia, includes symptomatic treatment, suppression of secondary microflora, treatment of concomitant diseases and suppression of virus replication in the blood. In no case should you use immunomodulators or immunostimulants on your own, as this can aggravate the course and speed of development of the disease.

7. Separate keeping of healthy and sick cats, including carriers of the virus, is required. Letting cats with FIV outside is unacceptable. A cat with FIV should be the only cat in the house. It is not advisable to adopt a cat who is also sick with FIV, since the strains of the virus are not determined and this can aggravate the disease.

8. The FIV vaccine is not available in Russia. It is also considered additional and its use should be determined by the risk-benefit ratio and only in FIV-free cats.

General recommendations

The most important thing for cats with this disease, as in general, is good maintenance and absence of stress. Good nutrition, care, parasite prevention and no outside walking are necessary. The animal must be exposed to a minimum number of pathogenic microorganisms. Castration of cats with immunodeficiency is necessary, since the stress from the constant production of sex hormones is higher. Complex vaccination with great caution, only with “dead” vaccines, since a “live” vaccine can cause severe complications, while protection from such a vaccine is lower, and the risk of post-vaccination sarcoma is higher. Ideally, such cats should simply always stay at home. Such cats should be strictly limited from other cats, or be the only cats in the house. It is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene in the home. Avoid hypothermia. Visit veterinary clinics only when necessary and for routine tests. At the same time, in the clinic, the cat must always be placed on the table on its own towel or diaper and avoid contact with other animals in line.

Diagnostic methods and results

Unlike the leukemia virus, when you need to look for the virus itself, when diagnosing immunodeficiency it is necessary to look for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies may not be detected in 2 cases - the incubation period has not yet passed and antibodies have not yet developed, or the sick animal is in a very serious condition, when the immune system can no longer produce antibodies. Cats from the street or from catteries must be retested for FIV 2 months after the first negative results. Kittens under 6 months of age may have false positive antibody test results. In rare cases, false positive results occur in healthy animals, so if there are no other signs of disease, the test must be repeated. General diagnosis of FIV includes a general clinical and biochemical analysis of blood, urine, feces, ultrasound, etc. The use of rapid ELISA tests is recommended.

A positive test for immunodeficiency is NOT an indication for euthanasia!

ELISA, ICA blood - if there are traces of an immune response in the blood, it means that the animal has been in contact with the virus and is 100% infected. It requires lifelong maintenance therapy and should be kept separately from its relatives.

PCR should be used in cases where an animal suspected of immunodeficiency has negative antibody test results.

Note

There is a combined enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (SNAP test), which immediately shows the result for both FIV and VLK. This option is in some cases much more convenient, and also cheaper than separate tests for each virus.

Coronavirus

A virus that is widespread in the population: the presence of antibodies is detected in 50% of domestic cats and in 90% of cats in shelters and nurseries. Perhaps the most harmless of all sluggish viruses. Many doctors have come to the conclusion that this virus is permanently present in most cats and the vast majority of them live a wonderful life with it, without showing it in any way.

1. Risk factor – crowded content.

2. Species-specific - does not pose a danger to humans and animals of other species.

3. The virus can leave the body when the overall infectious load is reduced (single housing, regular cleaning of the tray, lack of stress, care, maintaining the gastrointestinal tract in good condition - good nutrition, absence of parasites) or for other reasons.

4. A cat can be a carrier of the virus all its life without having any manifestations.

5. Routes of transmission: fecal-oral (common tray and bowls with an infected animal).

6. In rare cases (about 5% of all permanent carriers of the virus) it can mutate into a fatal disease (FIP). A risk factor is any stress.

7. It is undesirable to keep healthy and infected animals together in the same space.

Symptoms: in rare cases, diarrhea, vomiting. It may appear once in a lifetime, or occur periodically, or may become severe with a poor prognosis. But these symptoms have a huge number of other causes, which are often completely unrelated to the coronavirus.

Diagnostic methods and results

• Antibody detection/ELISA will show whether the cat has been in contact with the virus. A positive test and high titers - you need to retake it after 2-3 months. A negative test can sometimes be false, so it is also better to repeat it (you don’t need to wait long, but you can take it in another trusted laboratory, or on another day on the same day).
• Positive fecal PCR – the cat is shedding the virus and can now infect other cats.
• Until the situation is clarified, in both cases the animal must be quarantined without its relatives.

Respiratory viruses

Feline calicivirus infection

.

A highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract, in severe form it is a systemic disease, long-term carriage is possible.

1. The virus is widespread; when kept in crowded conditions, it affects up to 90% of the population.

2. Species-specific - there is no danger of infection of other species of animals and humans.

3. The virus is transmitted through secretions from the upper respiratory tract (respiratory form) or through any secretions through the skin (systemic form), as well as through hands, clothing, various surfaces, fleas and their feces.

4. Stable in apartment conditions for up to 28 days.

5. The virus mutates very often, so vaccination in most cases only helps to alleviate the course of the disease. Superinfections may occur that the vaccine does not protect against.

6. The virus is released into the external environment within 30 days, but some cats become carriers for life.

Symptoms appear 2-10 days after infection: sneezing, blisters or sores in the mouth, on the nose, excessive drooling, runny nose, fever, lethargy.

Diagnostic methods and results:

PCR diagnostics (nasal washes, oropharynx, etc.) - can sometimes be ineffective due to frequent mutation of the virus. The results are assessed by the doctor in the context of the clinical picture. Confirmation that the cat has stopped shedding the virus - 3 negative results at seven-day intervals.

So, we have listed the main and most dangerous cat infections that every volunteer should be familiar with. Without understanding the risks, there is a high probability of causing trouble, even if you have the best intentions.

After or before assessing the external condition, thermometry is performed (normal temperature in cats is 38-39 C). In addition, pay attention to appetite, breathing patterns, the color of the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes (normally they are pale pink, cyanosis and yellowness should alert you); as well as the color, consistency and even the smell of natural feces: urine and feces - normally they do not contain impurities of pus, blood, or foreign inclusions. Further actions will depend on the results of the examination: At the slightest suspicion of a serious illness (fever, poor appetite, dull coat, disheveled hair, depression, dry and hot nose), find a way to consult a veterinarian. If, according to external signs, everything is more or less normal, then you can proceed to the next stage of introducing the cat into a new comfortable life.

Diagnostic comment:

The doctor always compares the clinical picture and the results of laboratory tests.

But not a single laboratory diagnostic method gives a 100% guarantee of the absence or presence of the virus in the body. Firstly, viruses are quite complex organisms and sometimes may not appear in the blood or body fluids, especially for indolent viruses.

Secondly, laboratories examine only a specific sample of material and errors sometimes occur. Plus the human factor, hardware contagiousness, and the quality of laboratory reagents and drugs must be at the highest level.

Therefore, tests often need to be repeated for double-checking.

Mistakes happen in any laboratory, but always choose more reliable laboratories that have been on the market for these services for many years and have good equipment and reviews, the necessary certificates and qualified personnel.

Also listen to the advice of experienced volunteers.
Over time, you will begin to understand this more accurately. It is imperative to get tested! But there is no need to panic if some positive result comes.

Bacterial and fungal infections

The most common bacterial infections in cats are infectious anemia and salmonellosis. With the first, elevated temperature, lethargy, refusal to eat, and pallor of the oral mucosa are observed, and with salmonellosis, vomiting and runny nose are added to the above symptoms. Treatment of these infections in cats occurs through the use of antibiotics, homeopathic medicines, and hyperimmune serums.

There are a lot of fungal infections that our pets can be exposed to. Such pathologies affect the external and internal organs of the animal. The most common among them are histoplasmosis, candidiasis and cryptococcosis. Infection occurs through contact with fungal spores - through a wound, during food intake or through the air.

Read more: What are fungal diseases in cats?

As we see, there are many infectious diseases and not all of them are treatable. Therefore, only a doctor can identify what kind of infection the pet has been exposed to, as well as prescribe the correct therapy. The task of the animal owner is to immediately contact a veterinary clinic if the slightest symptoms of the disease appear in a tailed family member.

Prevention of infections

The most effective prevention of the spread of infectious diseases in cats is timely vaccination. In modern veterinary medicine there are many effective vaccines that can protect your pet from such diseases.

Read in detail the list of required vaccinations: Vaccinations for cats - what, how, why?

In addition to vaccination, cats should not be allowed to roam freely or have contact with potential carriers of infections (wild relatives). It is also worth paying special attention to the cat’s immunity, because it is weakened immunity that is most likely to lead to the animal eventually contracting one or another “infection.” High-quality balanced nutrition, vitamin complexes and a healthy emotional background are the key to success in the fight against various types of infections.

In conclusion, we would like to add: love your pets, be attentive to their health and do not be afraid to contact a specialist once again if there are changes in the cat’s behavior. And if the infection still overtakes your purr, do not give up and fight. Modern veterinary medicine has stepped far forward, and even in the most advanced cases there is always a chance to win!

About viral infections of cats

What are the main cat viruses?

Calicivirus, like human flu, has a lot of different variations and causes damage to the respiratory system. Herpesvirus - causes damage to the eyes and respiratory tract. Parvovirus is a virus that causes panleukopenia or feline distemper, which is characterized primarily by damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Coronavirus - which causes damage to the intestines, and can also cause FIP or viral peritonitis in cats. Feline leukemia virus – causes tumors and immunodeficiency. Feline immunodeficiency virus (an analogue of HIV) causes AIDS in cats. And of course the rabies virus. All of these viruses are most common in cats and are perhaps the most dangerous to their life and health. All of them, except the rabies virus, are safe for humans.

Where can cats get them?

Viruses are so tiny that they can enter the home from anywhere. Some of them are stable indoors and outdoors, others are not. So, for example, the feline panleukopenia virus can remain dangerous in an apartment for a whole year, the coronovirus can “live” for several weeks, the feline immunodeficiency virus is not able to live outside the cat’s body for more than a few minutes under normal conditions.

For which of them is there a vaccine?

Effective and WSAVA-recommended vaccines exist for most of these viruses. These vaccines are called “Core vaccines” because they protect against the main “core” of viruses, which are the main cause of infectious mortality and morbidity. These are vaccines against rabies, herpesvirus infection (rinotracheitis), calicivirus, panleukopenia. There are also vaccines for feline leukemia and corona virus, but these are still not recommended by WSAVA. The WSAVA's Scientific Committee on Vaccination monitors vaccine research and considers whether it is appropriate to recommend it to the general public. These vaccines are sold and they are effective to some extent, but the veterinary society has not yet recognized them.

What viruses are there no vaccinations for?

Well, firstly, against those that are rare or not so dangerous (a list of such viruses would probably take a couple of pages). There is also no vaccine against the causative agent of feline AIDS – FIV.

Do vaccinations provide 100% protection against the viruses they are supposed to protect a cat from?

No drug is 100% effective. If you read that a drug is 100% effective, this is either a lie, or the drug has not been studied enough (i.e. they treated 10 cats with it and said it was 100% effective). The most reliable vaccines are against rabies and panleukopenia; they provide the highest guarantees, and immunity from most vaccines sometimes lasts longer than the 1 year guaranteed by the instructions. Moreover, it is guaranteed that if the virus enters the body, the immune system will cope with it and it will die. The most difficult situation for the owner to understand comes when it comes to calicivirus and herpesvirus. The vaccine does not protect against infection! If the virus enters the body, the vaccinated animal will most likely not be able to cope with it and will remain infected for life. These vaccines guarantee that in 85% (or more) of cases the animal will not get sick or will suffer a mild form of the disease. 85% is very good protection, but it is precisely because of a lack of understanding of what the manufacturer guarantees that debates about the need for vaccination begin. By the way, a vaccinated animal infected with herpes virus will become a carrier of the virus for life, just like an unvaccinated animal, but it will not get sick, but it can probably cope with calicivirus.

Is it necessary to vaccinate a cat that only lives in an apartment?

Necessarily! Situations constantly happen when owners make complaints: “a cat fell out of a window, it was bitten by a stray cat...”, “A house mouse/bat came running/flying in, it’s probably rabid...”. But it would seem that a domestic cat has no chance of contracting rabies. Firstly, we are required by law to vaccinate our cats against rabies, and secondly, we cannot predict what will happen in the future. Another important problem is that when a situation suddenly arises that a person has to fly or travel somewhere, change his place of residence, he cannot take an unvaccinated cat with him. And this is if we are only talking about rabies, which does not fly through the air and will not come home to your cat on dirty shoes.

Speaking of dirty boots. The panleukopenia virus will come to your home on the soles that you soil in the yard where sick cats walk. The same is possible with the coronavirus. It is very difficult to bring home herpesvirus and calicivirus; by and large, the main thing is to wash your hands after handling a sick cat. Most doctors have vaccinated animals at home, and they do not bring the infection home.

Is it necessary to vaccinate a cat that goes to the country?

Necessarily. It doesn't even make sense to discuss this.

How often should cats be vaccinated?

Every year. Although there are other opinions. Doctors can discuss this issue among themselves as much as they want, citing the arguments of their Western colleagues. But we must understand that in most Western European countries the situation is such that they saw many infectious diseases only in pictures or in imported animals, because Vaccination coverage of even the most seemingly neglected animals reaches 98%. In such conditions, life is very difficult for viruses. Things are not so rosy for us.

I heard the opinion of some doctors that you can vaccinate several times annually, then every other year and then not vaccinate. Is this a special opinion or are there special vaccines?

This applies, first of all, to vaccination against panleukopenia. Vaccines against panleukopenia induce powerful immunity against this disease in 98% of cats; after several vaccinations, immunity can last for at least 3 years, and in many animals for life. However, this does not apply to calicivirus and herpesvirus, and different regimens are required to prevent rabies. By the way, the frequency of rabies vaccination is regulated by law depending on the situation in the country. We have rabies and non-rabies too, everything is still very bad, and we can’t expect any improvement in the near future.

Are there differences in the vaccines used in our clinics?

For some vaccines, the differences are not fundamental, because they are “bottled from one barrel.” Core vaccines from most manufacturers are highly effective and the fight for the consumer is serious. Hence the publications about new strains and the uniqueness of a certain vaccine. If our animals were 98% vaccinated, then in the grand scheme of things it wouldn't make much difference than vaccinating them at all.

Is it possible to vaccinate a cat next year with a different vaccine than the previous year (change of clinic, change of assortment at the clinic, unknown vaccine used in previous years)?

That's a very difficult question. There are WSAVA recommendations that state that vaccination can be done with different vaccines and this is true. And there are instructions from the manufacturer, which guarantees its effectiveness only if all the rules of the instructions are followed. Doctors who give opposite answers on this issue will be equally right. Only during the trial in court, most likely no one will listen to the recommendations of WSAVA, which means that it is more profitable for the doctor to follow the instructions. It is, of course, in the best interests of the owner and the animal to follow WSAVA recommendations. Conflict of opinions and interests. Personally, I am inclined to believe that the primary vaccination should be followed according to the instructions, and revaccinated every year with any vaccine (as long as the list of diseases matches). By the way, manufacturers have greatly weakened their position on this issue, and the instructions of most of them no longer contradict the recommendations of WSAVA.

Is it necessary to vaccinate an adult cat that has not been vaccinated twice (there is an opinion that only kittens are vaccinated 2 times, after 6 months and for the first time a single vaccination is enough and then a year later)

There is an opinion that vaccination should be done “overlapping”, every other year, but 2-3 weeks earlier than in the previous year. This is true?

A classic of this situation is the case when the owner of a cat runs into a 24-hour clinic, which stoically decided to work with the doors open on New Year’s Eve, at 10 minutes to midnight... And this is all for the sake of getting his cat vaccinated THIS year. Immunity is not a Cinderella that will disappear when the clock strikes. If we know that vaccines sometimes protect for more than a year, then it is clear that such an “overlap” is unnecessary. As you understand, such a rumor was not born out of nowhere. WSAVA recommendations state that vaccines should be used as often as the actual situation in the region requires. So, for example, for domestic dogs in cities inhabited by homeless and sick animals, the risk of becoming infected (in yards littered with, you know what, up to the rooftops) even among vaccinated ones is very high. Given many conditions, such action may be justified in some cases. For a lonely cat sitting at home - hardly.

Brought home a kitten. Have your own unvaccinated cats at home. What safety precautions should I take?

Do not bring a kitten. The situation is actually very dangerous. This causes stress in animals. They all find themselves in a new viral environment. If your pets have been infected with calicivirus or herpesvirus, they will begin to release them into the external environment due to stress, and no one can say what you brought home with the kitten. The best way out in such a situation is to isolate the kitten. After which you need to take him to a veterinarian, put him on globulin and treat him for fleas. When the kitten comes to his senses, about two weeks have passed since he has been living with you, he has eaten and adapted, then he must be dewormed and vaccinated (according to age). It will not be possible to isolate 100% in an apartment, especially for panleukopenia - the risk is extremely high.

Same thing, but your cats are vaccinated. What safety precautions should I take?

Yes, actually the same, but not so scary with panleukopenia. If the animals cannot have direct contact, and the air flows in the house do not intersect relatively, then it is much easier to maintain insulation. So, for example, in well-ventilated rooms, cats are kept in different cages - the walls between them do not allow air to pass through (say, made of glass), and the front walls are made of bars. Under such conditions, reinfection of animals with calicivirus or herpesvirus does not occur.

In this case, is it necessary to undergo all tests for possible viruses? Will they be indicative? How to make a choice - what to get tested for?

It is impossible to get tested for everything. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the test will not produce false positives or false negatives. Not all hidden infections are well detected by modern laboratories. It is almost impossible to detect infection in animals that are only recently infected. The best analysis would be quarantine, at least for 10-14 days. If the cats in the house are unvaccinated, tests will not give any guarantees and will only be a waste of money, and if they are vaccinated with Core vaccines, then other viruses remain for which tests are usually not done, or they are contradictory.

A kitten from the bird market died from the plague in the apartment. How soon can I adopt a new animal? We have heard the opinion that you can immediately adopt a twice vaccinated kitten / an adult vaccinated cat / a recovered animal. Who is better?

Ideally, do a thorough cleaning of the house. Get rid of things that may have been soiled by the feces of a previous animal. Clean carpets and furniture as required during general cleaning with detergents. It is good to use disinfectants with chlorine, where possible, or the same Virkon-S. Under no circumstances should you take an unvaccinated animal into your home, because... all this cleaning will not destroy the virus (unless you heat the apartment with a blowtorch). The point of cleaning is to dramatically reduce the number of viruses in the house. It is best to postpone the purchase of a new kitten for as long as possible, but if this is not possible, then it is better to take a fully vaccinated (and this is almost 6 months old) cat. Either an adult vaccinated animal or a recovered animal. An adult animal that has recently (21-60 days before moving in) been vaccinated once again (i.e. this is not its first vaccination in life) will be perfectly protected, but less attractive to the owner. An adult healthy vaccinated cat taken from a shelter is the most suitable candidate for a plague house. But first of all, I would think about whether it’s worth it.

The cat sneezes. What could it be? What should I get tested for?

Sneezing or really feeling sick? The sneeze itself can be the result of many things, from simple dust in the air to hereditary upper respiratory problems. 50% of cats will test positive for herpesvirus, regardless of whether they sneeze or not. This issue should be resolved by a doctor, depending on the situation.

What is a virus? What is a bacterial infection? What diseases are related to what?

A virus is a creature or substance that belongs to both living and inanimate nature. The virus has an envelope and inside carries DNA or RNA, i.e. genetic information that he himself cannot realize. Only when it enters a living cell does it become “alive.” A cell infected by a virus makes copies of its DNA or RNA, synthesizes membranes for them, after which it most often dies or becomes a keeper of viruses in the body (for example, nerve cells and herpesvirus). Bacteria are living beings and the only thing they have in common with viruses is that they are invisible to the naked eye and can cause disease. They can reproduce on their own, many even move, and some of them do not need animals or humans at all for their life, but can cause diseases if they enter the body. Viruses always need a living organism, without which they remain inanimate substances.

Bacterial infections in cats and dogs are quite numerous. Recently, most experts have paid special attention only to the most dangerous bacteria - Leptospira, Brucella, anthrax, etc. Those. those that cause individual clearly distinguishable diseases that have specific treatment and diagnosis. The reason is the difference in their treatment.

Are they treated the same way?

There is no such arsenal of remedies against viruses as there are against bacteria. The only exceptions are serums and globulins - because ready-made “immunity” against viruses, as well as antiviral drugs for herpes. In addition, interferons are used (cat interferon is very expensive), as well as interferon inducers (stimulators of its production by the body itself). Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, of which there are a great variety for different cases. Viruses usually destroy cells and then act not alone. Destroyed cells are a good nutrient substrate for bacteria, even those that usually live in the body without causing harm to it. Therefore, if a viral disease drags on, and sometimes immediately (for example, with panleukopenia, when the intestinal mucosa is affected and all the bacteria from the intestine can break into the body), antibiotics are prescribed to stop the development of the so-called secondary bacterial infection. In animals, especially small ones, this almost always has to be done.

Is it true that there are strong and weak antibiotics?

No, such concepts do not exist. There are antibiotics that are rarely used because... they are needed in cases where there is a particularly resistant bacteria proven by analysis that destroys other antibiotics with the help of enzymes. These are “reserve antibiotics.” They should not be used just like that. These antibiotics often have serious side effects. There are antibiotics that have been well researched and are used very often because... they are safe and effective for many diseases. But most often it is to them that bacteria develop resistance. They destroy them and reproduce quietly. These antibiotics are usually called weak.

This is an incorrect amateurish approach or the doctor is trying to figuratively explain to you why he uses this or that antibiotic. An antibiotic should be used either with a broad spectrum of action, or when a specific pathology is suspected of a more effective antibiotic, while it may be “weak” for other diseases.

Why are immunomodulators needed? For what diseases are they used, and when should they not be used?

This is a sore subject in our veterinary and medicine. Immunomodulators should be prescribed when the animal’s immune system has been examined (the last time I saw such an analysis in the owner’s hands was a year ago) and there is a need to modulate it, i.e. somehow change in one direction or another. All kinds of “stimulants” of the immune system are most often absolutely useless in practice when it comes to fighting diseases. They change test results, but cannot provide any real benefit for a viral disease. Among the heap of these useless drugs, it is now very difficult to find what is valuable and what is just an empty promise from the manufacturer.

Is it true that if an animal from the street has all the results of all tests negative, quarantine is not necessary?

It is difficult to imagine a person who found the funds for all the tests. And such a set of certificates does not give anything in practice. The animal should always be quarantined or released immediately at your own risk. Tests can, of course, make it possible to identify clearly sick animals (but they are usually visible anyway) and those secreting, say, the panleukopenia virus. But they cannot give a guarantee. Infectious disease experts believe that it is practically impossible to create an ideal shelter or nursery where animals can be kept without the risk of infection. Unless, of course, you build a separate house for each cat. When it comes to communities of stray cats with a changing composition - foster care, shelter, then tests turn into a waste of money. Needed: quarantine, immunoprophylaxis and vaccination.

What is the average quarantine period? What kind of quarantine can be considered sufficiently well-equipped and safe for neighboring cats?

Ideally, the quarantine is 1 month, during the quarantine it is worth examining the animal for leukemia and FIV, vaccinating the animal, and then releasing it to the vaccinated majority. After carefully reading the guarantees that vaccination against panleukopenia and herpes virus provides, you will understand why it makes no sense to get tested for them. If this is a constantly changing contingent in one apartment, quarantine is either impossible for most diseases, or in any case not safe. You can come up with different methods of isolation, but in reality, in specific conditions they may not work at all. So, for example, in my apartment the ventilation is such that with a certain wind direction, I am forced to breathe the smells of my neighbors’ kitchen in the bathroom of my apartment. Constantly putting my shoes away in the closet and wiping my feet on the rug, I discovered seed husks (the neighbors were littering on the landing) in the kitchen. What can we say about microscopic viruses? The ideal quarantine is a separate room, serviced by separate personnel. At home - a separate room, not visited by other cats, where the animal is placed in a spacious enclosure (not a cage), in which it will not get dirty in feces and urine.

How long does a recovered animal remain dangerous to surrounding cats?

This depends on many factors, ranging from the virus (animals remain infected with the herpes virus for life), ending with the animal itself and the conditions of its detention.

What is immunoprophylaxis?

These are the administration of serums or immunoglobulins. These drugs are obtained from the blood of cats that were specially injected with viruses, and they produced antibodies that kill the viruses. When a kitten or puppy is suspected of infection, or at the very beginning of the disease, they are injected with ready-made antibodies. This protects them from infection and allows them to cope with the infection. These drugs are not a panacea, and are by no means safe; they require proper storage and use under the supervision of a doctor, because Serious allergies may develop.

Are serums effective and should they be administered to all animals that have just arrived from the street?

Like all drugs, serums and globulins will not protect the animal 100%. Like all drugs, they have side effects, sometimes life-threatening. But inaction is worse and more dangerous, especially when it comes to puppies and kittens, who have a very high chance of dying from a viral infection.

What measures should be taken when using them?

It is best to use them under the supervision of a doctor or specialist. Emergency administration of anti-shock drugs may be required if the animal has allergies. This is adrenaline, possibly glucocorticoids. By the way, antihistamines in cats are ineffective in most cases.

In what cases is culture tested for sensitivity to antibiotics, what is it and what does it show?

Sowing is usually done in cases where the disease lasts for a very long time, usually these are chronic colitis, skin diseases accompanied by pyoderma, otitis, etc., which have been treated with antibiotics for a long time. In other cases, crops are most often not informative, because require about 7 days of waiting. The essence of the method is to show which antibiotic bacteria are sensitive to, because many of them can develop resistance to antibiotics.

Live vaccine and dead vaccine, what is it and which is better?

Alive. There are opinions that the anti-calicivirus component may be “dead”. Killed vaccines are safer, but they provide less reliable immunity. WSAVA recommends the use of live vaccines.

Are there bad vaccine batches or is this a myth?

It still happens. Some batches are being recalled by the manufacturer itself. Some vaccines spoil due to improper storage, which happens very often. The manufacturer is obliged to keep records and control cases of defective vaccines, as well as to check the quality of the drug if the complaint is properly handled. This is not a myth.

Free vaccination against rabies with a domestic vaccine, everyone is afraid of it, because... it is poorly tolerated by animals... Does it make sense to vaccinate it?

I have no right to criticize the quality of the vaccine produced by a well-known plant in the Russian Federation. But I always wonder, what is the incentive to maintain the quality of a free product? Do we ever associate the state and free with quality? A manufacturer who has a constant income from the state no matter what crap he produces has no incentive to improve. If the state purchased the vaccine for free vaccination on a competitive basis, I could definitely answer this question. And so... I think everyone should answer it for themselves.

They often write about PCR and the “conventional method”. What is the “conventional method”, what materials are examined using the PCR method, and what are they generally looking for in analyses?

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) has become the same common method. They use it to search for DNA or RNA contained in a virus or bacteria. Because Since the genetic code of all types of viruses, bacteria, and animals is completely different, it is possible to develop PCR that searches for a specific virus or bacterium. PCR answers the question whether the sent material contains DNA or RNA of the virus or bacteria for which the material was sent to search. PCR is very accurate, and usually does not mistake one virus for another, it is very sensitive and finds the virus, even if there is very, very, very little of it. Her sensitivity is partly her problem, because... Sometimes there are false positive reactions when reagents are accidentally contaminated in the laboratory, etc. Thus, the reaction answers the question: “Is there a virus or not?”, but this answer still needs to be interpreted correctly, because the presence of a virus does not always mean illness.

What, for example, can elevated blood test values ​​indicate?

Nothing. We can only observe an increase or decrease in individual indicators. If, for example, we see a lot of immune cells, this can indicate both an infection and an inflammatory process in any organ. A small number of immune cells occurs with viral panleukopenia (this follows from the name of the disease) of cats, with leukemia and FIV. Blood biochemistry can also change, for example, with infectious hepatitis in dogs, ALT and AST will increase, etc. No analysis will give an exact answer to what is wrong with the animal. However, they are very important for the doctor, and without them, doctors often cannot begin treatment or continue diagnosis.

Could it be that with normal results of general blood tests, the animal has life-threatening infections or does one rule out the other?

Maybe. The blood test does not change as quickly as the situation in the body. In order for, say, there are a lot of neutrophils in the analysis, the body still needs to produce them.

Does it make sense to donate blood before the annual vaccination or is it enough to get by with a general practitioner?

Most often, the owner himself knows his animal better than any tests and therapists. You should not vaccinate an animal that appears sick or suspicious. The therapist does not have enough time to assess the animal’s condition, other than taking the temperature. A blood test, of course, will provide more information, but in general it is not required. This is not practiced in medicine at all.

How often can you donate blood to cats, in what cases should you do it, and in what cases is it recommended to do it?

No doctor in any clinic will talk to you without a general urine and blood test. This is the general norm in medicine. Moreover, if you are admitted to the hospital, then the analysis should be done as many times as necessary, even if it is every 6 hours. In veterinary medicine there is only one problem with this - the owner pays for each test. This is where conversations begin about how often it should be done. There can be only one answer - as much as the doctor needs to track the indicator he needs. It is foolish to hope that with a chronic disease such as fatty liver, the analysis will quickly begin to change. However, with exacerbation of chronic renal failure or hepatitis, it is necessary to constantly monitor the dynamics of changes, and it is better to do the analysis every day, and in emergency cases, even more often. In developed countries, medical examination of animals is accepted, especially at an advanced age.

How long after vaccination can an animal be spayed/neutered?

It takes about 14-30 days to develop reliable immunity, during which time the animal must be healthy (including without post-operative wounds), and it is not advisable to expose it to stress.

Vaccination or castration – what comes first, what comes next, and why?

A cat with testes is not at risk of death, but a cat without vaccinations is very much at risk. I think priorities are automatically clear to anyone.

How long after vaccination does an animal develop sufficient immunity so that it can be released into a room with other animals?

This is usually indicated in the instructions for the vaccine - from 14 to 30 days.

I recommend that every person who raises cats at home, or is an active member of humane societies, purchases Gaskell and Bennett's book on infections in dogs and cats. Any conscious activity is possible only with training and understanding of the process, otherwise it is monkey copying, the formation of a tradition where understanding and knowledge are replaced by myth. No matter how difficult it may be, if you do not have a veterinary specialist whom you can trust, you will have to learn many things yourself. Moreover, under no circumstances should you believe everything that is written on the Internet, on forums and other publicly accessible information dumps. As with vaccination, there may be two different points of view, and difficult choices will have to be made in favor of one of them. It’s easier to do this based not on personal experience, but on the experience of specialists.

All the best, S.V. Konyaev.