Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Limping in cats linked to feline calicivirus outbreak
By Gianvito Lanave et al.·Published in Animals·2023·Department of Veterinary Medicine, University Aldo Moro of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: An Outbreak of Limping Syndrome Associated with Feline Calicivirus
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two cats in the same household developed limping after being infected with feline calicivirus (FCV), a highly contagious virus that usually causes respiratory issues and mouth sores. The limping syndrome appeared about 12 days after the initial signs of infection. Researchers found that the virus could still cause limping even after being passed between the cats. While the study focused on the virus's genetic makeup, it highlights the importance of monitoring for unusual symptoms like limping in cats with FCV. Treatment typically involves supportive care for the symptoms of the virus.
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Abstract
Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common viral pathogen found in domestic cats. FCV is highly contagious and demonstrates a high genetic variability. Upper respiratory tract disease, oral ulcerations, salivation, and gingivitis–stomatitis have been regarded as typical clinical signs of FCV infection. Ulcerative dermatitis, abortion, severe pneumonia, enteritis, chronic stomatitis, and virulent systemic disease have been reported more sporadically. Limping syndrome has been also described either in naturally or experimentally FCV-infected cats. In this study, we monitored a small outbreak of FCV infection in two household cats, in which limping disease was monitored with a 12-day lag time. The complete genome sequence was determined for the viruses isolated from the oropharyngeal and rectal swabs of the two animals, mapping up to 39 synonymous nucleotide mutations. The four isolates were sensitive to low pH conditions and trypsin treatment, a pattern usually associated with viruses isolated from the upper respiratory tract. Overall, the asynchronous pattern of infections and the results of genome sequencing suggest that a virus of respiratory origin was transmitted between the animals and that the FCV strain was able to retain the limping disease pathotype during the transmission chain, as previously observed in experimental studies with FCV strains associated with lameness.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111778