Calicivirus infection in cats

Hofmann-Lehmann, R. et al. (2022) Calicivirus infection in cats. Viruses, 14(5), 937. (doi: 10.3390/v14050937)

Abstract

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen in domestic cats that is highly contagious, resistant to many disinfectants and demonstrates a high genetic variability. FCV infection can lead to serious or even fatal diseases. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of experts in feline medicine from 11 European countries, presents the current knowledge of FCV infection and fills gaps with expert opinions. FCV infections are particularly problematic in multicat environments. FCV-infected cats often show painful erosions in the mouth and mild upper respiratory disease and, particularly in kittens, even fatal pneumonia. However, infection can be associated with chronic gingivostomatitis. Rarely, highly virulent FCV variants can induce severe systemic disease with epizootic spread and high mortality. FCV can best be detected by reverse-transcriptase PCR. However, a negative result does not rule out FCV infection and healthy cats can test positive. All cats should be vaccinated against FCV (core vaccine); however, vaccination protects cats from disease but not from infection. Considering the high variability of FCV, changing to different vaccine strain(s) may be of benefit if disease occurs in fully vaccinated cats. Infection-induced immunity is not life-long and does not protect against all strains; therefore, vaccination of cats that have recovered from caliciviral disease is recommended.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The European ABCD gratefully acknowledges the support of Boehringer Ingelheim (the founding sponsor of the ABCD), Virbac, and IDEXX.
• Keywords: FCV, feline, multicat environment, genetic variability, virulent systemic, diagnosis, vaccination, vaccine strains, tenacity, treatment.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hosie, Professor Margaret and Addie, Dr Diane
• Authors: Hofmann-Lehmann, R., Hosie, M. J., Hartmann, K., Egberink, H., Truyen, U., Tasker, S., Belák, S., Boucraut-Baralon, C., Frymus, T., Lloret, A., Marsilio, F., Pennisi, M. G., Addie, D. D., Lutz, H., Thiry, E., Radford, A. D., and Möstl, K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Viruses
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1999-4915
• ISSN (Online): 1999-4915
• Published Online: 29 April 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Viruses 14(5): 937
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License