Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Common respiratory infections in UK pet cats and their risk factors
By Chan, I et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2023·Small Animal Specialist Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and risk factors for common respiratory pathogens within a cohort of pet cats in the UK.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that 13.3% of pet cats in the UK tested positive for feline calicivirus (FCV), a common cause of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD). This virus was more likely to be found in purebred cats and those showing signs of respiratory illness. Additionally, some cats with FCV also had co-infections with feline herpesvirus (FHV) or Chlamydia felis. If your cat is showing symptoms like sneezing or nasal discharge, it may be worth discussing these findings with your veterinarian to check for possible infections and appropriate treatments.
People also search for: cat sneezing treatment · feline calicivirus symptoms · upper respiratory infection in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and Chlamydia felis are common causes of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in cats. Their prevalence in the UK pet cat population has not been reported and little is known regarding the risk factors for their oral carriage. METHODS: Total nucleic acid was extracted from owner-collected buccal swabs (n=600) from cats enrolled in a self-selected longitudinal cohort study. Duplex quantitative PCRs for the detection of FHV and C. felis genomic DNA and reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCRs for the detection of FCV genomic RNA were performed. Duplicates, swabs with insufficient host DNA/RNA, and cats with missing data were excluded. Selected epidemiological data were interrogated using univariable and multi-variable logistic regression modelling to identify risk factors. RESULTS: Data from 430 cats were included in the final statistical model. Of these, 2.1% (n=9/430; 95% CI 1.0% to 3.9%) were positive for FHV, 13.3% (n=57/430; 95% CI 10.2% to 16.8%) positive for FCV and 1.2% (n=5/430; 95% CI 0.4% to 2.7%) positive for C. felis. FCV co-infection was present in five (44%) FHV-positive cats and three (60%) C. felis-positive cats. FCV carriage was more frequent in purebred cats (odds ratio 2.48; 95% CI 1.37 to 4.49) and in cats with current or historical clinical signs compatible with URTD (odds ratio 2.98; 95% CI 1.22 to 7.27). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: FCV was the most frequently encountered URTD pathogen in this sample of cats; this should be noted for disinfectant choice. In cats suspected of having FHV or C. felis infection, assessment for co-infection with FCV is recommended.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37248773/