Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate duration of immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline calicivirus (FCV). ANIMALS: 17 cats. PROCEDURE: Immunity of 9 vaccinated and 8 unvaccinated cats (of an original 15 vaccinated and 17 unvaccinated cats) was challenged 7.5 years after vaccination. Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) cats were vaccinated at 8 and 12 weeks old and housed in isolation facilities. Offspring of vaccinated cats served as unvaccinated contact control cats. Virus neutralization tests were used to determine antibody titers yearly. Clinical responses were recorded, and titers were determined weekly after viral challenge. RESULTS: Control cats remained free of antibodies against FPV, FHV, and FCV and did not have infection before viral challenge. Vaccinated cats had high FPV titers throughout the study and solid protection against virulent FPV 7.5 years after vaccination. Vaccinated cats were seropositive against FHV and FCV for 3 to 4 years after vaccination, with gradually declining titers. Vaccinated cats were protected partially against viral challenge with virulent FHV. Relative efficacy of the vaccine, on the basis of reduction of clinical signs of disease, was 52%. Results were similar after FCV challenge, with relative efficacy of 63%. Vaccination did not prevent local mild infection or shedding of FHV or FCV. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of immunity after vaccination with an inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine was > 7 years. Protection against FPV was better than for FHV and FCV. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Persistence of antibody titers against all 3 viruses for > 3 years supports recommendations that cats may be revaccinated against FPV-FHV-FCV at 3-year intervals.     

A study of feline upper respiratory tract disease with reference to prevalence and risk factors for infection with feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus.

A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of cats was carried out to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for respiratory tract disease, feline calicivirus (FCV) infection and feline herpesvirus (FHV) infection. Seven hundred and forty cats were studied; samples for isolation of FCV and FHV were obtained from 622 (84%). Data on individual cat and household variables were obtained by questionnaire for each cat and analysed using univariable and logistic regression analysis. Thirty-eight percent (282/740) of cats surveyed had respiratory tract disease. Eighteen of 24 predictor variables were found to be significantly (P<0.05) associated with the presence of respiratory tract disease in a cat on univariable analysis. Following logistic regression, several factors retained significance including isolation of FCV and FHV, younger cats (4-11 months of age) and multiple cat households. A negative association was found with breeding catteries and other types of household in comparison with rescue catteries. Overall, feline calicivirus was isolated from 162/622 (26%) of cats sampled; 33% of the cats with respiratory tract disease were FCV positive compared to 21% of healthy cats. Variables significantly associated with FCV isolation on logistic regression were the presence of respiratory tract disease and contact with dogs with and without respiratory tract disease. Feline herpesvirus was isolated from 30/622 (5%) of all cats sampled; 11% of cats with respiratory tract disease were FHV positive compared to 1% of healthy cats. Variables significantly associated with FHV isolation on univariable analysis included age, gender, and the presence of respiratory tract disease. Vaccination showed a negative association. Logistic regression analysis of the data for FHV was limited by the sample size and the low prevalence of FHV.     

Evaluation of cytologic findings in feline conjunctivitis

Background

Cytologic examination of smears prepared from ocular swabs of conjunctiva from cats with conjunctivitis permits identification of the type of inflammation and possibly specific microorganisms. Results of studies of the diagnostic utility of cytology for detection of infectious causes of feline conjunctivitis have been inconsistent.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to describe cytologic findings in cats with conjunctivitis and to compare those findings with results of PCR analysis for feline herpesvirus (FHV‐1), Chlamydophila felis (C felis), and Mycoplasma felis (M felis).

Methods

Conjunctival smears from 88 cats with conjunctivitis and 10 healthy control cats were stained with a Romanowsky stain and evaluated for the type of inflammation and evidence of an infectious agent. PCR analysis for FHV‐1, C felis, and M felis was performed.

Results

Infectious agents identified by PCR analysis were FHV‐1 in 9 cats (10%), C felis in 8 cats (9%), and M felis in 6 cats (7%). Inclusions interpreted as chlamydial inclusions were found in all cytologic smears from cats positive for C felis by PCR analysis and in 3 PCR‐negative cats. Inclusions interpreted as Mycoplasma organisms were found in 3 of 6 cats that were PCR‐positive for M felis and in 1 PCR‐negative cat. FHV‐1 inclusion bodies were not detected on cytologic examination.

Conclusions

Cytologic examination can be diagnostic for C felis infection when many typical inclusions are present. Cytologic examination was unreliable in diagnosing M felis infection, and viral inclusions of FHV‐1 were not found in specimens stained with Romanowsky stains.     

Detection of protective antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus-1, and feline calicivirus in shelter cats using a point-of-care ELISA

Serum antibody titers are a useful measurement of protection against infection (feline panleukopenia virus [FPV]) or clinical disease (feline herpesvirus-1 [FHV] and feline calicivirus [FCV]), and their determination has been recommended as part of disease outbreak management in animal shelters. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and inter-observer and inter-assay agreement of two semi-quantitative point-of-care assays for the detection of protective antibody titers (PAT) against FPV, FHV and FCV in shelter cats. Low sensitivity for FPV antibodies (28%) rendered a canine point-of-care assay inappropriate for use in cats. The feline point-of-care assay also had low sensitivity (49%) and low negative predictive value (74%) for FPV PAT detection, but was highly accurate in the assessment of FHV and FCV PAT. Improvements in accuracy and repeatability of FPV PAT determination could make this tool a valuable component of a disease outbreak response in animal shelters.     

Feline calicivirus: a neglected cause of feline ocular surface infections?

Objective To investigate the prevalence of feline calicivirus (FCV) infection in relation to ocular surface lesions in cats with upper respiratory tract diseases (URTD). Animals studied Ninety‐nine cats with ocular surface infection and symptoms or recent history of URTD were examined at various rescue shelters and hospitals. Procedure A complete general and ophthalmic examination was performed including Schirmer tear test, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein and lissamine green staining. Clinical and ocular symptoms were scored and recorded. Conjunctival samples were collected using a cytobrush, and nucleic acid extraction using RT‐PCR was carried out to analyze for the presence of various infectious agents. Results RT‐PCR detected either FCV, feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV‐1), Chlamydophila felis or Mycoplasma spp. in 63/99 samples. 30/63 samples were positive for FCV, 23/63 for C. felis, 21/63 for Mycoplasma spp., and 16/63 for FHV‐1. Out of the 30 FCV‐positive samples, 11 were positive only for FCV and in 19 samples FCV was seen in combination with other agents. FCV infection was highest in animals examined at the rescue centers and in the age group of 0–2 months. Erosive conjunctivitis was an important ocular finding. Oral ulcers were detected in all FCV‐infected cats. Conclusion Results indicate that FCV is highly prevalent in cats with URTD either as a sole infectious agent or in combination with other pathogens and therefore is a potential cause for ocular surface lesions during the URTD.     

Common virus infections in cats, before and after being placed in shelters, with emphasis on feline enteric coronavirus

The purpose of this study was to determine the origin and subsequent spread of feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) in cats relinquished to shelters. FCV was isolated from the oral fauces of 11% of healthy cats upon entry, and isolation rates were highest for kittens (33%). FHV shedding was very low (4%) at the time of entry and occurred mainly in juveniles. FECV shedding was also common among newly relinquished cats (33%), especially older kittens and juveniles (90%). The subsequent spread of all three viruses was rapid and efficient in the shelter environment. Fifteen percent of cats were shedding FCV, 52% FHV, and 60% FECV after 1 week. More detailed studies were done with FECV shedding, which could be accurately quantitated. The amounts of FECV shed by infected cats ranged from 10(2)to 10(16)particles/swab of feces. FECV shedding was several logs higher in young kittens with primary infection than adult cats with primary infections. The mean levels of FECV shedding among adults were the same for primary and chronic infections. Although shelters were not the primary source of these viruses for many relinquished cats, factors intrinsic to the shelter environment were critical in amplifying shedding and spread to susceptible individuals. Extrinsic factors were especially important for the spread of FHV and FECV. FHV shedding rates increased from 4% to 50% in 1 week's time. The speed and magnitude of the increase in FHV shedding suggested that there was reactivation of latent infections as well as acquisition of new infections. FECV shedding increased 10 to 1,000,000 fold in 1 week among cats that were already infected at entry, and more than one-half of initially negative cats were shedding FECV a week later. Feline calicivirus infection was the least likely to spread in the shelter. The infection rate only increased from 11 to 15% in 1 week.     

Prevalence of Feline Chlamydia psittaci and Feline Herpesvirus 1 in Cats with Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

The epidemiology of feline chlamydiosis and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV1) infection in cats was determined using a duplex polymerase chain reaction assay. In cats with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), prevalences of 66 (14.3%) of 462 cats and 98 (21.2%) of 462 cats were found for Chlamydia psittaci and FHV1, respectively. In cats without URTD, prevalences were 1/87 (1.1%) for both pathogens. Younger cats, cats sampled in summer, and cats with conjunctivitis were more likely to be positive for C psittaci than were cats sampled in other seasons and cats without conjunctivitis. Cats with recent contact with cats outside the household, cats with acute disease, and sneezing cats were more likely to be positive for FHV1 than were cats that had not had recent contact with cats outside the household, cats with chronic disease, and cats that were not sneezing. Purebred cats were less likely to be positive for FHV1 than were mixed breed cats and prevalence varied with year of sampling. Coinfection with both pathogens was lower than would be expected from their respective prevalences. Vaccinated cats were equally likely to be positive for FHV1 as unvaccinated cats. In sneezing cats FHV1 was more likely to be detected than C psittaci, particularly in acute cases, and when sneezing was not accompanied by conjunctivitis. Cats with reproductive disease concurrent with URTD were more likely to be infected with FHV1 than with C psittaci. Thus, the factors that should be considered in clinical diagnoses of C psittaci infections are the presence of conjunctivitis, age, and season, whereas contact with other cats, acute disease, and sneezing should be considered in diagnoses of FHV1 infection.     

Relevance of feline calicivirus, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, feline herpesvirus and Bartonella henselae in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis

Despite its common occurrence, the aetiology of chronic gingivostomatitis in cats remains uncertain. Aetiology is likely multifactorial, and several infectious agents may be associated with chronic gingivostomatitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of feline calicivirus (FCV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and in an age-matched control group. In addition, other factors, e. g., environmental conditions were investigated. In 52 cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and 50 healthy age-matched control cats, the presence of FCV ribonucleic acid (RNA), and FHV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] from oropharyngeal swabs), and B. henselae DNA (PCR from oropharyngeal swabs and blood), as well as FeLV antigen (serum), and antibodies against FCV, B. henselae, and FIV (serum) were examined. FCV RNA was significantly more common in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (53.8%, p < 0.001) than in controls (14.0%); a significant difference was also found in the prevalence of antibodies to FCV between the cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (78.8%, p = 0.023) and controls (58.0%). Of the other infectious agents investigated, there was no significant difference in the prevalence between the cats with chronic gingivostomatitis and the controls. The results of this study allow the conclusion that FCV, but no other infectious agents, is commonly associated with chronic gingivostomatitis in cats.     

Isolation of feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus from domestic cats 1980 to 1989

Isolation rates of feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) from oropharyngeal swabs, taken from 6866 cats in 1980 to 1989 were studied retrospectively. FCV was isolated from 1364 (19.9 per cent) and FHV from 285 (4.2 per cent). The ratio of FCV:FHV isolations varied from 1.3:1 to 15:1 in individual years with an overall ratio of 4.8:1. Isolation of both viruses was fairly uniform for each year and there was no breed or sex disposition to either virus. Of 872 cats shedding FCV and 213 cats shedding FHV, of known age, 447 (51.3 per cent) with FCV and 140 (65.7 per cent) with FHV were under one year old, compared to only 35.3 per cent of the whole population sampled. For the years 1985 to 1989, more information was obtained about the cases. Of 4626 cats tested, 1180 (25.5 per cent) had acute upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) of which 348 (29.5 per cent) were shedding FCV and 162 (13.7 per cent) FHV. A further 597 had chronic URTD and of these, 102 (17.1 per cent) were shedding FCV and 18 (3 per cent) FHV. In 120 cases of suspected vaccine reaction/breakdown, FCV was isolated from 34 (28.3 per cent) and FHV from only two (1.7 per cent). FHV was not isolated from any of 412 cases presenting with chronic gingivitis/stomatitis alone; 181 (43.9 per cent) were shedding FCV and when cats with other signs in addition to chronic gingivitis were included, this proportion increased to 70.4 per cent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pretreatment with feline interferon omega and the course of subsequent infection with feline herpesvirus in cats

OBJECTIVE: Recombinant feline interferon omega (rFeIFN-omega), a type I IFN, may have the potential to limit virus replication and associated clinical signs when administered early on in the course of feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) infection and reactivation, respectively. The effect of rFeIFN-omega pretreatment on the course of subsequent FHV-1 infection in cats was investigated. ANIMALS STUDIED: Nine SPF cats were divided into an IFN group (n = 5) and a control-group (n = 4). PROCEDURES: The IFN group was pretreated for 2 days with 10 000 units rFeIFN-omega twice a day topically into both eyes and 20 000 units rFeIFN-omega once a day orally, whereas the control group was mock-treated. Subsequently all cats were infected with FHV-1. Samples for FHV-1 DNA detection and quantitation, virus isolation, and titration of FHV-1 antibodies were collected. Clinical and ocular signs were recorded and scored. RESULTS: Courses of median individual clinical and ocular scores and virus load did not differ significantly between both groups using anova for repeated measurements. Analysis (anova) of each individual ocular parameter revealed significantly high scores for epithelial keratitis (P = 0.016) in the IFN group compared to the control group. Periods of virus shedding did not differ significantly between both groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated a lack of beneficial effects of rFeIFN-omega pretreatment in the course of primary FHV-1 infection in cats.     

Response of feral cats to vaccination at the time of neutering

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administration of inactivated virus or modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines to feral cats at the time of neutering induces protective serum antiviral antibody titers. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 61 feral cats included in a trap-neuter-return program in Florida. PROCEDURES: Each cat received vaccines against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpes virus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), FeLV, and rabies virus (RV). Immediately on completion of surgery, vaccines that contained inactivated RV and FeLV antigens and either MLV or inactivated FPV, FHV, and FCV antigens were administered. Titers of antiviral antibodies (except those against FeLV) were assessed in serum samples obtained immediately prior to surgery and approximately 10 weeks later. RESULTS: Prior to vaccination, some of the cats had protective serum antibody titers against FPV (33%), FHV (21%), FCV (64%), and RV (3%). Following vaccination, the overall proportion of cats with protective serum antiviral antibody titers increased (FPV [90%], FHV [56%], FCV [93%], and RV [98%]). With the exception of the FHV vaccine, there were no differences in the proportions of cats protected with inactivated virus versus MLV vaccines. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that exposure to FPV, FHV, and FCV is common among feral cats and that a high proportion of cats are susceptible to RV infection. Feral cats appeared to have an excellent immune response following vaccination at the time of neutering. Incorporation of vaccination into trap-neuter-return programs is likely to protect the health of individual cats and possibly reduce the disease burden in the community.     

Evaluation of serologic and viral detection methods for diagnosing feline herpesvirus-1 infection in cats with acute respiratory tract or chronic ocular disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of virus isolation (VI), immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay, serum neutralization (SN), and ELISA for the diagnosis of clinical feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection in cats. ANIMALS: 46 clinically normal cats, 17 cats with signs of acute respiratory tract disease, and 38 cats with signs of chronic ocular disease. PROCEDURE: Conjunctival swabs for VI, conjunctival scrapings for IFA testing, and venous blood samples for SN or ELISA testing were obtained from all cats. RESULTS: FHV-1 was detected in 10.9 and 28.3% of clinically normal cats and in 18.2 and 33.3% of cats with FHV-1-associated disease by VI and the IFA assay, respectively. There were no significant differences in the viral detection rate between cats with acute respiratory tract disease and cats with chronic ocular disease or between diseased cats and clinically normal cats; however, FHV-1 was never detected by both methods in clinically normal cats. Overall FHV-1 seroprevalence was 97% when tested by ELISA and 66% when tested by SN. Seroprevalence did not vary significantly among the 3 groups for either serologic test. Magnitude of SN and ELISA titers varied greatly but independently of presence or absence of clinical signs of FHV-1-associated disease. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were assessed for VI and the IFA assay--jointly and individually--and for each SN and ELISA titer magnitude. Values never all exceeded 50%. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Because FHV-1 can be detected commonly in clinically normal cats by the IFA assay or VI, neither test appears to aid in the clinical diagnosis of FHV-1 infection. Seroprevalence does not appear to vary between affected and clinically normal cats. SN, ELISA, VI, and the IFA assay appear to be of limited value in the diagnosis of FHV-1-associated disease in cats. Concurrent assessment of the IFA assay and VI results may permit exclusion of FHV-1 as an etiologic agent if results of both tests are negative.     

Factors associated with upper respiratory tract disease caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, Chlamydophila felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica in cats: experience from 218 European catteries

A full history of the management practices and the prevalence of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) at 218 rescue shelters, breeding establishments and private households with five or more cats was recorded. Oropharyngeal and conjunctival swabs and blood samples were taken from 1748 cats. The prevalences of feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydophila felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica were determined by PCR on swab samples. An ELISA was applied to determine the prevalence of antibodies to B. bronchiseptica. The rates of detection by PCR of each pathogen in the cats in catteries with and without ongoing URTD were, respectively, FHV 16 per cent and 8 per cent; FCV 47 per cent and 29 per cent; C. felis 10 per cent and 3 per cent; and B. bronchiseptica 5 per cent and 1.3 per cent; the seroprevalences of B. bronchiseptica were 61 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively. There was evidence that FHV, FCV and B. bronchiseptica played a role in URTD. The risk factors associated with the disease were less than excellent hygiene, contact with dogs with URTD, and larger numbers of cats in the cattery or household.     

Comparison of the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Culture for the Detection of Feline Chlamydia psittaci in Untreated and Doxycycline-Treated Experimentally Infected Cats

The diagnostic sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared with that of culture on conjunctival swabs over the course of infection in 4 doxycycline-treated and 4 untreated cats that were experimentally infected with feline Chlamydia psittaci. Treated cats were given 25 mg (5 mg/kg) of doxycycline orally twice daily for 3 weeks from day 6 after challenge. Clinical signs improved within 3 days of institution of treatment. Culture remained positive for 1 day and PCR remained positive for up to 5 days after treatment was commenced. No recurrence of clinical signs occurred and the organism could not be detected by either PCR or culture for 2 weeks after cessation of therapy. In the 4 untreated cats, conjunctival swabs were taken daily to day 14 and every 2nd weekday to day 64 after challenge. PCR was significantly more sensitive than culture in untreated cats overall (PCR 85.7%, culture 72.9%, P approximately 0) and for cats with clinical signs (PCR 89.2%, culture 79.2%, P = .008). PCR and culture had equivalent sensitivity (100%) for cats showing clinical signs in the 1st month of infection, whereas PCR was considerably more sensitive than culture for cats showing clinical signs in the 2nd month (PCR 72.9%, culture 47.9%, P = .028). Organisms were not detected by PCR in blood or any tissue collected from treated or untreated cats at postmortem. Thus, effective treatment of chlamydiosis in cats is possible with much shorter treatment regimens than currently recommended, and PCR is the more sensitive diagnostic method in chronically infected cats.     

Feline Herpesvirus 1 and Mycoplasma spp. Conventional PCR Assay Results From Conjunctival Samples From Cats in Shelters With Suspected Acute Ocular Infections

Signs of ocular infections like discharge and conjunctivitis occur commonly in cats in shelters and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), Chlamydia felis, Mycoplasma spp, and feline calicivirus (FCV) are thought to be the most common causes. While molecular assays are available to amplify nucleic acids of each of these agents as single tests or in panels, additional information is needed concerning whether the assay results can be used to predict response to treatment. The objectives of this study were to report results for conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays that amplify nucleic acids of FHV-1, Mycoplasma spp., C. felis, and FCV from cats with signs of acute ocular and upper respiratory infections in an animal shelter and to determine whether the results are associated with treatment responses to topical administration of cidofovir (anti-FHV-1) or oxytetracycline (anti-Mycoplasma spp. and C. felis). Conjunctival samples were collected from both eyes of 60 cats with ocular signs of disease. Total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) were extracted from each sample and assayed for DNA of FHV-1, Mycoplasma spp., and C. felis and RNA of FCV by conventional PCR assays. Cats were randomized to be administered either oxytetracycline ointment or cidofovir drops in both eyes and a standardized ocular disease score system was used to determine a total ocular score for each cat prior to treatment on Day 0 and on Day 7. Nucleic acids of one or more agents were amplified from one or both eyes from 39 of 60 cats (65%). FHV-1 DNA (21 cats), Mycoplasma spp. DNA (25 cats) or FCV RNA (2 cats) were amplified most commonly. After treatment for 7 days, 32 of 60 cats (53.3%) were considered improved with 27 of 32 cats (84.4%) having ocular scores of 0 (21 cats) or 1 (6 cats). When the results of the FHV-1 PCR assay were compared to cidofovir treatment responses, the positive and negative predictive values of the assay were shown to be 29.4% and 60%, respectively. When the results of the Mycoplasma spp. PCR assay were compared to oxytetracycline treatment responses, the positive and negative predictive values of the assay were shown to be 40% and 38.5%, respectively. The predictive value of conventional PCR assay results for FHV-1 or Mycoplasma spp. DNA was low, suggesting that performing these tests to formulate a treatment protocol has minimal clinical utility in cats with suspected acute ocular infections.     

When cats' ways of life interact with their viruses: a study in 15 natural populations of owned and unowned cats (Felis silvestris catus)

In natural populations, virus circulation is influenced by host behavior and physiological characteristics. Cat populations exhibit a great variability in social and spatial structure, the existence of different ways of life within a same population may also result in different epidemiological patterns. To test this hypothesis, we used a logistic regression to analyze the risk factors of Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline herpes virus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline parvovirus (FPV) infection in owned (fed and sheltered) and unowned (neither fed nor sheltered, unsocialized) cats living in a rural environment in the North Eastern part of France. A serological survey was carried out in 492 non-vaccinated and non-sterilized individuals from 15 populations living in the same area. The prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was also studied, but too few were infected to analyze the risk factors of this virus. For each virus, the epidemiological pattern was different in owned and unowned cats. Unowned cats were more frequently infected by directly transmitted viruses like FIV, FHV and FCV (21.22%, 67.66%, 86.52% in unowned cats vs 9.55%, 53.88%, 77.18% in owned cats, respectively), a difference that may be explained by a more solitary and more aggressive behavior in unowned adults, and/or possibly by a higher sensitivity related to a more stressful life. On the contrary, owned cats were more frequently infected with FPV (36.41% in owned cats vs 15.61% in unowned cats), possibly as a result of their concentration around human settlements. The present study showed that owned and unowned cats living in a same area have behavioral and physiological characteristics sufficiently different to influence virus circulation. Pooling different types of cats in a single sample without taking it into account could give a wrong picture of the epidemiology of their viruses. The conclusion of this work can be extended to any epidemiological studies led in wildlife species with flexible behavior as any variations in social or spatial structure, between or within populations, could result in different virus circulation.     

Isolation of obligate anaerobic bacteria from ulcerative keratitis in domestic animals

Objective To determine the frequency of obligate anaerobic bacterial isolation from corneal samples of domestic animals with ulcerative keratitis and to characterize the historical, clinical, cytological, and microbiological features of culture‐positive cases. Animals studied Three hundred and thirty domestic animals with ulcerative keratitis. Procedures Anaerobic bacteriologic culture and Gram stain were performed on corneal samples from consecutive animals examined with suspect septic ulcerative keratitis. Additional corneal diagnostics included: aerobic bacteriologic culture for all species; fungal culture for ungulates; Mycoplasma culture and virus isolation or feline herpesvirus‐1 (FHV‐1) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for cats. Historical, clinical, and cytological findings were correlated with microbiologic data. Results Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from 13.0% of corneal samples (dogs: 14.0%; horses: 12.9%; cats: 7.9%; alpacas: 18.8%). The most frequent isolates were Clostridium, Peptostreptococcus, Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides species. The majority of these infections were mixed anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, unless antimicrobial therapy had been administered prior to presentation. The clinical appearance of anaerobic bacterial culture‐positive cases was highly variable. Ocular trauma, pre‐existing corneal disease, previous corneal surgery, and chronic dermatological disease were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) correlated with positive anaerobic cultures in one or more species. Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrate that obligate anaerobic bacteria are present within the intralesional flora of ulcerative keratitis in domestic animals. In most species evaluated, these bacteria were identified infrequently. Anaerobic bacterial infection of the cornea most frequently occurs in association with other ocular pathogens and previous corneal abnormalities.     

Effect of topical ophthalmic application of cidofovir on experimentally induced primary ocular feline herpesvirus-1 infection in cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of twice-daily ophthalmic application of 0.5% cidofovir solution in cats with experimentally induced primary ocular feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection. ANIMALS: Twelve 6-month-old sexually intact male cats. PROCEDURES: Cats were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. Ocular infection with FHV-1 was induced (day 0) in all cats via inoculation of both eyes with 10(4) plaque-forming units of a plaque-purified FHV-1 field strain. Twice daily for 10 days beginning on day 4 after virus inoculation, the treatment group received 1 drop of 0.5% cidofovir in 1% carboxymethylcellulose in both eyes, and the control group received 1 drop of 1% carboxymethylcellulose in both eyes. A standardized scoring method was used to evaluate clinical signs of FHV-1 infection in each cat once daily for 24 days. The amount of ocular viral shedding was assessed by use of a quantitative real-time PCR procedure every 3 days during the study period. Clinical scores and viral quantification were averaged over the pretreatment (days 0 to 3), treatment (days 4 to 14), and posttreatment (days 15 to 24) periods for each cat. RESULTS: During the treatment period, clinical scores and amount of viral ocular shedding were significantly lower in the treatment group, compared with findings in the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Twice-daily application of 0.5% cidofovir solution in both eyes significantly decreased the amount of viral shedding and the severity of clinical disease in cats with experimentally induced ocular FHV-1 infection.