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NZ Vet Nursing: Medical/Diseases > Feline Diseases > Flashcards

Feline Diseases Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the difference between core and non-core vaccines?

A

Core is recommended for all cats, non-core is only recommended if the cat is at risk.

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2
Q

How do vaccines work?

A

Vaccines work by exposing a cat’s immune system to a small amount of the disease-causing agent (virus or bacteria) by injection. Following a complete vaccination program, the immune system produces antibodies and special cells that ‘remember’ the viruses and bacteria contained in the vaccine. ​When your cat comes in contact with the real disease, the immune system will ‘remember’ what was in the vaccine and rapidly eliminate the infection. ​

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3
Q

Do vaccines wear over time?

A

Yes.

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4
Q

What do modified live vaccines contain?

A

Whole pathogens that have been weakened (attenuated) so that they can’t cause clinical disease, but can still infect and multiply.

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5
Q

What do killed vaccines contain?

A

Killed pathogens that cannot multiply or harm the animal.

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6
Q

Do vaccines need to be given via the correct administration route?

A

Yes, as nasal drops given as injections can cause severe local reactions and fatal liver failure.​

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7
Q

What is Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) also known as?

A

Feline Enteritis or Feline Parvovirus.

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8
Q

How is the virus Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) spread?

A

Direct contact, blood, faeces, urine, vomit, saliva, across the placenta, fomites, lice and fleas.

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9
Q

What are the symptoms of Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV)?

A

Fever, loss of appetite, depression, weakness, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and dramatic loss of all circulating white blood cells.

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10
Q

How contagious and deadly is Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV)?

A

Very contagious and very deadly, especially for kittens which can kill them within 12-24 hours.

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11
Q

What virus can cause sudden death from heart failure in kittens under six months old?

A

Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV).

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12
Q

How long does it take for a sudden offset of vomiting and diarrhoea to occur after a fever for adult cats with Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV)?

A

2-4 days after fever.

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13
Q

How can Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) be prevented?

A

Vaccination and with good hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of areas like catteries as the virus is highly resistant.

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14
Q

How does Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) affect a developing fetus?

A

The virus will damage developing embryos, kittens will get brain damage within a few days after birth, which will be seen as ataxia (high stepping kittens).

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15
Q

How can Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) be treated?

A

IV fluids, antibiotics, feeding, anti-emetics to stop vomiting and nausea and meds to stop diarrhoea.

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16
Q

How long can Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV) survive off of the host?

A

Years.

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17
Q

What is Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) also known as? What is it referred to by the public as?

A

Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1), publically referred to as Snuffles.

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18
Q

What is the most serious upper respiratory disease in cats?

A

Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR).

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19
Q

What can be involved with Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR)?

A

Mycoplasma, Bordetella bronchsptica and Chlamydophilia psittaci.

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20
Q

What are the symptoms of Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR)?

A

Discharge from mouth, nose and eyes, nasal discharge can become pus, sneezing, salivating, may develop chronic sinusitis (inflammation of sinuses), multiple ulcers on the cornea of the eye, reduced appetite, depression, inflammation of nose and eyes, may develop bronchitis, foetal abortion or reabsorption.

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21
Q

How is the virus Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) spread?

A

Discharge from eyes, nose or mouth, fomites, aerosol (sneezing and coughing).

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22
Q

Are there any issues with Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) post-recovery?

A

Up to 80% of cats will remain carriers for life, so after they recover any stressful events will give the cat a small reinfection of the disease and they become contagious. This can also happen when anti-inflammatory steroid drugs are used on the cat.

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23
Q

How can the pinprick ulcers on the eyes from Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) be seen?

A

With stain.

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24
Q

How long can Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) survive off of the host?

A

18-24 hours.

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25
What is Feline Calicivirus (FCV) also referred to as?
Snuffles.
26
How long can Feline Calicivirus (FCV) survive off of the host?
8-10 days.
27
How resistant and contagious is Feline Calicivirus (FCV)?
Very contagious and mutates regularly so is resistant.
28
What are the common symptoms of Feline Calicivirus (FCV)?
Discharge from eyes and nose, sneezing, depression, fever, increased salvation, ulcers in the mouth (makes eating hard and causes anorexia) and may see a high temperature.
29
What are the less common symptoms of Feline Calicivirus (FCV)?
Ulcers in the nose, footpad and ulcers between the toes, gingivitis/stomatitis (gum/mouth infections), acute and chronic enteritis (bowel infection), muscle aching, pneumonia and lameness.
30
How much can the cat shed Feline Calicivirus (FCV)?
Can be shed in the absence of symptoms, some can shed the virus for life without symptoms.
31
What is at least 80% of feline upper respiratory disease caused by?
Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1) or Feline Calicivirus (FCV) group.
32
What can Feline Calicivirus (FCV) hide the presence of?
Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1), a double infection.
33
What does Feline Chlamydophilosis refer to?
An infection with a type of intracellular bacteria that acts like a parasite and often associates itself with viruses.
34
How resistant and contagious is Feline Chlamydophilosis?
It is highly adapted to the cat and the organism is very fragile.
35
How long can Feline Chlamydophilosis survive off of the host?
It cannot survive off of the host for any significant period of time.
36
What are the symptoms of Feline Chlamydophilosis?
Severe eye inflammation (eyes are very red and swollen), excess tears and pus discharge. Early on congestion in the nose, increased tears. Less common symptoms include fever, runny nose and sneezing.
37
How is the virus Feline Chlamydophilosis spread?
Starts in one eye and can spread to the other when cleaning, direct contact, the organism can be shed from, gastrointestinal and lower genital tracts.
38
What age does Feline Chlamydophilosis usually affect?
5-12 weeks old.
39
What is the incubation period for Feline Chlamydophilosis?
3-10 days.
40
How long can cats become carriers of Feline Chlamydophilosis for?
Months or even years.
41
How long is the usual course of the infection Feline Chlamydophilosis?
7-14 days.
42
What is the incubation period for Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
Up to 2 years.
43
What age is the virus Feline Leukaemia (FELV) most common in?
First year, but can take years before signs or death occurs.
44
What virus is thought to cause the majority of cat cancers in New Zealand?
Feline Leukaemia (FELV).
45
What does the virus Feline Leukaemia (FELV) cause?
Neoplastic diseases (such as lymphosarcoma, leukemia), degenerative diseases (myelosuppression), immunosuppression, abscesses, ill health, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, liver and spleen, failure to thrive, tumours.
46
How contagious and deadly is Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
It is contagious and very deadly.
47
Is there a vaccine for Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
No vaccine as cases has shown tumours growing on the site of vaccine injection.
48
How is the virus Feline Leukaemia (FELV) spread?
Saliva, nose-to-nose contact, mutual grooming, bites, shared food/water bowls, urine, faeces, milk to kittens as well as across the placenta and blood transfusions. When virus suppresses immune system symptoms like anaemia, arthritis, neurological signs and reproductive failure occur.
49
Is Feline Leukaemia (FELV) curable? How is it treated?
No cure. It is treated by supportive therapy, relieving distressing symptoms. Exact treatment depends on what the symptoms in the specific cat are.
50
How is Feline Leukaemia (FELV) tested for?
Collection of blood, blood is tested using an ELISA Kit which tests for antibodies. It can be done in the clinic but the sample can be sent to a lab for more accurate testing.
51
What happens to 40% of cats that are exposed to Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
Infected and clears immediately.
52
What happens to 30% of cats that are exposed to Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
Infected and dies.
53
What happens to 20% of cats that are exposed to Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
Infected and clears long term.
54
What are alimentary (digestive system) tumours?
Tumours that localises at any stage in the digestive tract. Can cause anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, strained defecation, blood in faeces and weight loss.
55
What are thymic (immune system organ in upper chest) tumours?
These tumours occur as a large tumour or multiple tumours in the thymus, with metastasis (secondary malignant growths) to nearby lymphoid tissues and occasionally to structures outside the chest cavity.
56
What are multicentric (cancer in more than one place) tumours?
They primarily involve lymphoid tissues, with secondary involvement of structures such as the liver, bone marrow, kidney and lungs. Signs can vary but usually, there are enlarged peripheral lymph nodes that can be felt during examination.
57
What is an unclassified tumour?
It's the least common of lymphosarcoma, it includes lesions of the skin, eyes, kidneys, central nervous system and/or other non-lymphoid tissues. Symptoms vary from, visible lesions on skin or eyes, to uremia, to incoordination and convulsions.
58
What are the symptoms for leukemia (blood cancer)?
Anorexia, depression,m weight loss, enlargement of liver and spleen. Leukemia without organ involvement is rare.
59
What are the associated diseases cats can catch because of Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
Feline Infectious Peritonitis, thymic atrophy (Fading Kitten Syndrome), respiratory disease, reproductive failure ( infertility, abortion or reabsorption), chronic stomatitis, gingivitis, oral ulcers and Feline Panleukopenia-like syndrome.
60
What is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) also known as?
Feline AIDS.
61
How resistant is Feline Leukaemia (FELV)?
The virus is fragile and easily killed with UV light, heat, detergents and drying.
62
How resistant is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
They are fragile, being easily inactivated by ultraviolet light, heat, detergents and drying.
63
What does Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) do?
It attacks the cat's immune system, leaving the cat unable to fight off various infections and cancers.
64
How is the virus Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) spread?
It is shed in saliva and usually transmitted by bite wounds. Transmission through utero or through the mother's milk is rare but it can occur if the queen is infected during pregnancy. Queens infected prior to pregnancy usually have non-infected kittens.
65
What are the three stages of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
1) After an initial acute stage with fever and infection, 2) the animal recovers, and enters a sub-clinical or latent stage, This can last many years as the immune system is slowly destroyed. 3) The immune system isn't working properly and chronic opportunistic infections appear. The cat's saliva is infectious at this stage.
66
How is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) tested for?
Collection of blood, blood is tested using an ELISA Kit which tests for antibodies. Should be confirmed though a Western blot.
67
What are the symptoms of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
Stage 1 acute fever, stage 3 lethargy, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, cancers, ringworm, skin diseases, oral infections, respiratory infections, eye issues.
68
How can Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) be treated?
Treatment is according to symptoms the specific cat presents if they are not to be euthanased.
69
How often does Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) need to be tested for?
During sickness, when the cat is being adopted/entering a new home, when at high risk (like catteries) or living in a household with another FIV positive cat, after potential exposure, cats should be retested 8-12 weeks after most recent exposure, cats with unknown infection status should be tested once then retested in 8-12 weeks, and kittens that have been tested at less than 6 months old should be retested after 6 months of age.
70
What causes the disease Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
Coronavirus. It is only one variation of what can happen when cats come into contact with COVID-19.
71
How is the virus Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) spread?
Faeces, sharing food bowls, mutual grooming and close contact.
72
What are the three possibilities after infection for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
1) The virus enters blood, immune system attacks and destroys it (80-90% of cases). However, cats may not be immune to further infection from coronavirus. 2) The virus enters the blood, the cat's immune system prevents further internal injury. Cat persistently sheds virus. Dangerous to other cats who have not met the virus. (5-10% of cases) 3) The virus enters the blood, the cat's immune system cannot fight it off, the disease starts. (5-10% of cases)
73
What is the WET form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
The cat has a poor immune response and the virus runs riot. Damage from immune response causes blood vessels to leak fluid into blood cavities -abdomen and thorax, there is severe illness and is normally fatal.
74
What is the DRY form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
The cat has a better immune response, less damage than WET form. The virus can localize anywhere causing damage wherever it is. This form is usually fatal but over a longer period than the WET form. There are also treatments available for this form. The drug Feline Interferon Omega (Virbagen Omega) can help but not cure around 25-35% of cats.
75
What are the symptoms of the DRY form of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)?
Sore cloudy looking eyes, weight loss, -persistent high temperature, liver damage, kidney damage, neurological signs (fitting/blindness), and anaemia.
76
What age do kittens lose their maternal anti-bodies at?
8-12 weeks. It is less of a problem for cats than dogs but they can be at risk if exposed to Parvovirus.
77
What are the core feline vaccinations in New Zealand?
Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV).
78
What are the non-core feline vaccinations in New Zealand?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Chlamydophilosis.
79
When and how do newborn kittens get antibodies?
They get them within 24 hours of birth, from their first milk/colostrum.
80
What age should the first dose of core vaccines be given at?
6-8 weeks.
81
When should the vaccine be repeated at and when will the final be given?
Every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age (or older).
82
How often should core vaccines be given for cats older than 16 weeks?
A follow-up “booster” vaccine is recommended between 6-12 months of age.  
83
How often should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Panleukopaenia (FPV)?
They only need 1 vaccination then one every three years is acceptable for FPV.
84
How often should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1)?
They require two doses (given 3-4 weeks apart).
85
How often should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Calicivirus (FCV)?
Usually 2 doses at 3-4 week intervals then annually​. Annual revaccination is recommended for at-risk cats particularly if they attend boarding places or are part of a multi-cat household.
86
When should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Chlamydophilosis?
Usually only used for animals in multicat environments where infections associated with clinical disease have been confirmed. This is not part of a standard cat vaccination programme. 
87
When should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)?
Adult cats must have a blood test to see if the cat has FIV before vaccination, and only vaccinate those that are negative. Up to six months of age we can usually vaccinate without tests
88
What are the risks of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccination?
All vaccinated cats will test positive on an FIV ELISA test. Euthanasia is likely if a healthy FIV vaccinated cat ends up in a shelter and is found to be positive. The disease prevalence in New Zealand is estimated as between 2-12%​. Lifestyle should also contribute to risks/benefits of the vaccination.
89
How often should a cat over 16 weeks get revaccinated for Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR)?
3 vaccinations, 4 weeks, microchipped and registered with NZCAR. Usually 2 doses at 3-4 week intervals then annually​. Annual revaccination is recommended for at-risk cats particularly if they attend boarding places or are part of a multi-cat household.

NZ Vet Nursing: Medical/Diseases (5 decks)

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