An outbreak of virulent systemic feline calicivirus disease

Abstract

Outbreaks of highly virulent FCV disease are increasingly common. Strains causing such outbreaks have been genetically distinct from one another but caused similar disease signs and were resistant to vaccination. All cats with suspicious signs (including upper respiratory tract infection) should be handled with strict hygienic precautions. Sodium hypochlorite solution should be used for disinfection following suspected contamination. All exposed cats should be isolated until negative viral status is confirmed. Chronic viral shedding is possible but may not be clinically important. This and similar outbreaks have been described as being caused by hemorrhagic fever-like caliciviruses, but hemorrhage is uncommonly reported. Virulent systemic FCV infection is suggested as an alternative description.

Feline calicivirus

“…More recently, and more worryingly, highly virulent strains of FCV have emerged that are associated with outbreaks of disease with high mortality and a new range of clinical features (FCV-associated virulent systemic disease (VSD) -previously haemorrhagic-like fever) [42,43,77,95]. This is reminiscent of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV).…”

“…They are generally considered to be safe and effective at reducing or preventing classical oral/respiratory disease, but do not protect against infection or the development of the carrier state. Evidence from the field suggests that the current vaccines do not prevent FCVassociated VSD with outbreaks occurring in vaccinated cats [15,42,77,95]. However, there is some experimental data to support their use [6,77].…”

“…Areas where the cat has been and any equipment require disinfection using a product that has been shown to be effective against FCV. Quaternary ammonium compounds are generally not thought to be completely effective [23,25,42,63]. However, a 1:32 dilution of household bleach with some household detergent does seem to be effective providing contact time is sufficient [96].…”

Epidemiological status of felid herpesvirus type-1 and feline calicivirus infections in Brazil

“…In the last decade, FCV-VSD has been reported in the United States and Europe (PEDERSEN et al, 2000;SCHORR-EVANS et al, 2003;HURLEY et al, 2004), although it has not yet been described in Brazil.…”

“…Factors such as viral evolution and/or immunomediated and environmental components may be related to the development of this syndrome (HURLEY et al, 2004). The clinical manifestations are pyrexia, cutaneous edema, ulcerative lesions in the head and gums, jaundice resulting from hepatic necrosis and pancreatitis, disseminated vasculitis and hemorrhaging (RADFORD et al, 2009).…”