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Calici Virus Has A New Look! Any one doing cat rescue has
had some exposure to the calici virus. The calici virus is one of the
infectious organisms that collectively are known as upper respiratory
infection in cats. Research shows that 80% to 90% of the upper
respiratory infections are caused by either the calici virus, the herpes
virus or a combination of the two. The typical symptoms for calici are
oral ulcers, eye and nose discharge, and joint and muscle pain.
Typically the appetite is not affected unless there is difficulty eating
or chewing food due to the oral ulcers. References
Arnold Plotnick MS,
DVM, ACVIM, ABVP |
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Copyright © 2007 John Bennett. All Rights Reserved |
About Us
That
was what we all have come to expect from this virus until now. A variant
of the virus termed “Hot Calici” has recently passed through the Folsom
area infecting a number of cats and kittens. Most of the adults infected
were of the known variety with normal symptoms. However the kittens
infected were a completely different story. As the images show we have
new symptoms including swollen ears, hair loss around nose, ears, and
paws. Some of the standard calici like symptoms were also seen such as
muscle soreness and eye discharge but very little respiratory signs.
Some of the kittens tested positive for Mycoplasma as well. In the
severe cases, as in Figure 2, the kittens are infected with both ears
swollen and weighted such that the ears literally flop down as shown in
the image. Severe drooling may also be seen and lasts for a few days
before clearing up. 
We
have been working with Blue Ravine Animal Hospital to diagnose and
discover a treatment for this virus. PCR swabs of the larynx were used
to determine the cause of the infection for the initial group of
infected kittens. Initial treatment was started with anti-biotics such
as Clavamox® to help prevent any secondary bacterial infection and allow
the cats own immune system to counteract the virus. However this
treatment alone was not effective. Further treatment with Tamiflu®,
Doxycycline, and Interferon were also tried. Doxycycline and Clavamox®
seem to be the best treatment for infection. Interferon seems to help
with the healing of oral ulcers in adult cats. Some of the severely
infected kittens needed fluids and regular force-feeding to maintain
weight and hydration. 70 to 80 percent of the kittens survived the
infection as long as the virus did not attack the organs or cause
additional complications such as Pneumonia.
Cats
vaccinated with a standard 3 in 1 or 4 in 1 FVRCP vaccine series seem to
hold off any infections However newly vaccinated cats may still be
infected by the virus or just show mild symptoms such as muscle soreness
or limping for a few days. Kittens needed a number of vaccinations
before enough immunity was gained to fight off the virus. Kittens
building immunity or with an existing weak immunity showed signs of
muscle soreness, some hair loss on the nose or smaller sores on an ear
when infected. These kittens also recovered quickly and had no loss of
appetite. The incubation period was very fast in the 1 to 10 day period
with duration of the illness following the 1 to 2 week time frame. Newly
acquired kittens vaccinated on arrival still became infected within 3
days to a week time frame. 
