Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe feline calicivirus with skin ulcers in Swiss and Liechtenstein
By Willi, Barbara et al.·Published in Veterinary microbiology·2016·University of Zurich·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular characterization and virus neutralization patterns of severe, non-epizootic forms of feline calicivirus infections resembling virulent systemic disease in cats in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Nine kittens and two adult cats in Switzerland and Liechtenstein were brought in with severe symptoms including fever, mouth and skin ulcers, swelling in their heads and paws, and sometimes breathing problems. Testing confirmed they were infected with feline calicivirus (FCV), while other common viruses were ruled out. Unfortunately, all the affected cats died, but the disease did not spread to other cats in the area. The findings suggest that some cases might have been preventable with the right vaccine. It's important for pet owners to be aware of these serious FCV infections that can resemble other diseases.
People also search for: cat fever and ulcers · feline calicivirus symptoms · kitten vaccination for calicivirus · why is my cat limping · cat skin problems treatment
Abstract
Feline calicivirus (FCV) infections are associated with oral ulceration, chronic stomatitis and a limping syndrome. Epizootic outbreaks of virulent systemic disease (VSD) have been reported in the USA and Europe. Here, the molecular characterization and neutralization patterns of FCV isolates from cases of severe, non-epizootic infection associated with skin ulceration and edema are presented. Samples from eleven symptomatic cats, four in-contact cats and 27 cats with no contact with symptomatic cats were collected and tested for FCV, feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Phylogenetic analyses based on the capsid (VP1) gene of FCV and virus neutralization with antisera raised against four FCV vaccine strains were performed. Nine kittens and two adult cats in two shelters and two veterinary clinics in four geographically distinct locations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein were affected. The cats showed fever, tongue and skin ulceration, head and paw edema, and occasionally jaundice, generalized edema and dyspnea. All symptomatic cats tested FCV-positive but were negative for FHV-1, FeLV and FIV, with the exception of one FIV-positive kitten. All kittens of one litter and both adult cats died. The disease did not spread to cats in the environment. Cats in the environment displayed phylogenetically distinct, but related, FCV strains. Virus neutralization patterns suggested that some cases might have been potentially prevented by vaccination with the optimal vaccine strain. In conclusion, clinicians should be aware of severe, non-epizootic forms of FCV infections with initial clinical presentations similar to VSD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26711049/