Content
- Feline herpes type 1
- Feline herpesvirus 1 transmission
- Feline Herpes Symptoms
- Feline Infectious Rhinotracheitis
- Diagnosis
- Can feline rhinotracheitis be cured?
- Feline Rhinotracheitis - Treatment
- Feline Rhinotracheitis - Vaccine
- Feline rhinotracheitis catches in humans?
Feline Infectious Rhinotracheitis is a very serious and highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory system of cats. This disease is caused by the Feline Herpersvirus 1 (HVF-1) virus and generally affects cats with low immunity.
When the infection is acute, the prognosis is very poor. On the other hand, in chronic cases, the prognosis is favorable.
In this PeritoAnimal article we will explain everything you need to know about feline rhinotracheitis caused by feline herpesvirus! Keep reading!
Feline herpes type 1
Feline herpesvirus 1 (HVF-1) is a virus belonging to the genus Varicellovirus. Affects both domestic cats and other wild cats[1].
This virus contains a double strand of DNA and has a glycoprotein-lipid envelope. For this reason, it is relatively fragile in the outdoor environment and is highly susceptible to the effects of common disinfectants. For this reason, a good cleaning and disinfection of your cat's house and objects is very important!
This virus can survive up to just 18 hours in a humid environment. It hardly survives in dry environments! It is for this reason that this virus normally affects the ocular, nasal and oral region. He needs this moist environment to survive and these regions are perfect for him!
Feline herpesvirus 1 transmission
The most common form of transmission of this virus is through direct contact between infected cats and kittens with low immunity (especially kittens). When kittens are born, they have maternal antibodies that protect them, but as they grow they lose this protection and become highly susceptible to this and other viruses. Hence the great importance of vaccination!
Feline Herpes Symptoms
Feline herpesvirus 1 usually affects the upper airways of cats. The incubation period for the virus is 2 to 6 days (the time that elapses from the cat becoming infected until it shows the first clinical signs) and intensity of symptoms may vary.
the main symptoms of the virus are:
- Depression
- sneezing
- Lethargy
- nasal discharges
- eye discharges
- eye injuries
- Fever
within the eye injuries, the most common are:
- Conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Proliferative keratoconjunctivitis
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Corneal kidnapping
- neonatal ophthalmia
- syblepharo
- uveitis
Feline Infectious Rhinotracheitis
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is the disease caused by the Feline Herpesvirus type 1 infection, as we have already explained. This disease, which especially affects younger animals, can even lead to death. Unfortunately, it is one of the most common illnesses in cats.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually made through the observation of clinical signs associated with the presence of feline herpesvirus type 1, which we have already mentioned. That is, the veterinarian makes the diagnosis of this disease mainly by observing the kitten's symptoms and its history.
In case there are any doubts, there are laboratory tests that allow a definitive diagnosis of treating this disease. Some of these tests are:
- Tissue scraping for histopathological examination
- Nasal and eye swab
- cell cultivation
- immunofluorescence
- PCR (most specific method of them all)
Can feline rhinotracheitis be cured?
Whether rhinotracheitis is curable is obviously one of the issues that most concerns the owners of animals that suffer from this disease. Unfortunately, there is no possibility of a cure for acute feline herpesvirus infection in all cats. Mainly in kittens, this disease can be fatal. However, there is a treatment and cats with this disease can have a good prognosis if treatment is started in the initial stage of the disease.
Feline Rhinotracheitis - Treatment
After a diagnosis is made, the veterinarian will prescribe a appropriate treatment for the cat's clinical signs.
Antiviral treatment is a very complicated and time-consuming treatment since the virus lives inside the cells and it is necessary to take medicine to prevent the virus from reproducing without killing the cells where it is housed. For this purpose, the veterinarian may use antiviral agents such as ganciclovir and cidofovir, which have proven to be effective in combating this virus.[2].
Furthermore, the use of antibiotics is common, as secondary bacterial infections are very frequent.
As the clinical signs of the cat may be prescribed eye drops, nasal decongestants and nebulizations. More severe cases, in which the animals are very dehydrated and/or anorectic, may require hospitalization, fluid therapy and even forced feeding through a tube.
Feline Rhinotracheitis - Vaccine
The best way to prevent feline rhinotracheitis is undoubtedly vaccination. There is this vaccine in Brazil and it is part of the normal cat vaccination plan.
The first dose of the vaccine is usually applied between 45 and 60 days of life of the animal and the booster must be annual. However, it may vary depending on the protocol your veterinarian follows. The most important thing is that you follow the vaccination plan that your veterinarian has defined.
Kittens that are not yet vaccinated should avoid contact with unknown cats as they can carry this virus and if it is active they can transmit it. Sometimes the signs of the disease are very mild and not easy to detect, especially in chronic carriers of the virus.
Feline rhinotracheitis catches in humans?
Because it is a contagious disease and there is also herpesvirus in humans, many people ask the question: does feline rhinotracheitis catch in humans? The answer is NOT! You can rest assured that this virus is specific to these animals and does not pass to us humans. It is highly contagious but only between cats and through direct contact with secretions from the little eyes or nose. Or also, by indirect contact, such as through a sneeze!
We recall that these animals, even after the symptoms are cured, are carriers of the virus, which, when in a latent state, is not contagious. However, as soon as the virus is activated, it becomes a potential contagion again.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.