Page 1162 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

1154 PART 14 QUEEN AND KITTEN WITH PROBLEMS

Classical signs—Cont’d ● Now a much rarer cause of reproductive failure due
to effective vaccines.
● Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and
anemia.
● FeLV-related disease such as lymphoid Diagnosis
and myeloid neoplasms and reproductive Diagnosis is based on history and physical examina-
failure. tion with signs typical of herpes virus infection.
Virus isolation in tissue culture from nasal, conjunc-
See main reference on page 540 for details.
tival or oropharyngeal swabs is available at some
laboratories.
Clinical signs
Herpes virus intranuclear inclusion bodies in hema-
Reproductive signs associated with FeLV infection may toxylin and eosin-stained sections of inflamed mucous
include effects on the fetus or uterus. membranes.
● Fetal effects include:
DNA probes with PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
– Unobserved early embryonal deaths.
amplification is a very sensitive test for detecting her-
– Resorption of fetuses.
pes virus infections and this is now the preferred test in
– Abortion of normal-appearing fetuses.
a clinical situation.
– Live-born kittens who then fail to nurse,
● Moisten well a clean dry bacteriology swab with tears
become dehydrated and die in the first few
or exudate, place the swab in a sterile container
weeks of life.
(no transport medium) and refrigerate at 4˚C until
● Possibly pyometra due to immunosuppression,
submission. Local anesthetic may be used in the
with consequent affect on fertility.
eye before firmly swabbing the conjunctival sac.
Diagnosis
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA
Diagnosis is by demonstrating a positive viral antigen
test; a variety of commercial test kits are available. See
Classical signs
page 543 for details.
● Peracute disease characterized by sudden
Viral isolation in the laboratory.
death.
● Subacute disease manifested by mild
FELINE HERPES VIRUS depression and diarrhea.
● Fetal infection resulting in fetal death or
Classical signs live kittens with neurological problems.
● Acute and chronic respiratory disease.
● Abortion and neonatal mortality. See main reference on page 650 for details.

See main reference on page 583 for details. Clinical signs
Signs of fetal infection depend on the gestational age of
Clinical signs the fetus at the time of exposure.
● There may be infertility due to inapparent loss of
Acute upper respiratory tract signs with paroxysms of
embryos.
sneezing and mucopurulent oculonasal discharge, or
● There may be abortion of mummified or macer-
chronic conjunctivitis and sinusitis.
ated fetuses.
Abortion occurs in infected queens, either as a ● Kittens born alive often have cerebellar hypoplasia
direct effect of the virus on the placenta, or due to the with consequent ataxia, and they may also be blind
debilitating effects of the disease on the queen. due to retinal degeneration.