Feline Vaccinations and Parasite Protocols

3 Vaccine Types

1. Killed

2. Modified Live

3. Live

Killed

Comprised of a protein or piece of the intended pathogen that can stimulate immune response, but not cause disease

• unable to replicate

• weaker immune stimulation

• more dependent on adjuvants

• safer in pregnant and immunosuppressed

• Ex: rabies

Adjuvants

something you add to a vaccine to make a stronger immune response

Modified Live

derived from the naturally occurring pathogen but modified that it cannot cause disease but does allow for immune stimulate

• can replicate in host

• more rapid onset of immunity

• could cause false positive results on certain tests

• Ex: Lyme

  • can give false positive on 4DX (antibody test and the vaccine gives you antibodies so patient will test positive)

Live

contain a weakened form of the pathogen that can cause disease but with the intention that the severity is limited

Ex: bordetella

Core Vaccines

1. FRCCP

2. Rabies

Non-Core Vaccines

1. FeLV

2. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Meaning of FRCCP

• Feline Rhinotracheitis/Feline Herpes Virus

• Feline Calicivirus

• Chlamydia

• Feline Panleukopenia Virus

Meaning of FeLV

Feline leukemia virus

What does FRCCP vaccine vaccinate for

• Feline Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpes Virus - FHV)

• Feline Calicivirus (FCV)

• Chlamydophila felis (Chlamydia)

• Feline Panleukopenia Virus (type of Parvovirus)

• Provides cross protection to canine parvovirus-2

FRCCP Vaccine Type

Modified Live

FRCCP Schedule

• boosters every 3-4 wks starting at 6 wks of age to 16-20 wks of age

• 1 year booster after initial series

• 3 years thereafter

FRCCP vaccine location

Right front limb

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Etiology

Feline Herpesvirus type-1

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Transmission

direct and indirect transmission with contact of virus particles spread through saliva and ocular discharge

• shows disease in 2-5 days from infection

• active infection lasts 10-20 days

• all infected cats will be chronic carriers → once they get it, they will always have it

• latent carriers

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Clinical Signs

Upper respiratory signs

• sneezing

• nasal discharge

#1 cause of conjunctivitis

• blepharospasms

• clear to purulent discharge

• Keratitis

• Corneal ulcers → Corneal Sequestrum

Keratitis

Inflammation of Cornea

Corneal Sequestrum

Dead Cornea

Testing for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis

PCR

Feline Calicivirus Etiology

Feline Calicivirus

Feline Calicivirus Transmission

Direct and indirect transmission through oral, nasal, and ocular secretions

• Virus can survive up to a week in environment

• 2-6 incubation

• 14-21 day shedding (when they can transmit virus to other host)

Feline Calicivirus clinical signs

• more severe in young

• sneezing

• nasal discharge

• conjunctivitis

• oral/lingual ulcers (unique to this disease)

  • drooling

• lameness

Testing for Feline Calicivirus

PCR

Chlamydia Etiology

Chlamydophila felis (previously C. psittaci)

Transmission of Chlamydia

Direct contact

BACTERIA has poor survival outside of the body

• incubation is 3-10d

• rectal and vaginal shedding but no reported venereal transmission

Clinical signs of Chlamydia

Conjunctivitis

Nasal discharge

Sneezing

Possible pneumonia

Testing for Chlamydia

PCR

Feline Panleukopenia Virus Etiology

Parvovirus

Feline Panleukopenia Virus Transmission

Direct and indirect contact with urine, fecal or nasal secretions

• have been reports of vector transmission from fleas

• shed for 1-2 days

• virus can survive up to a year in the environment

Clinical signs of Feline Panleukopenia Virus

Diarrhea

Panleukopenia (all WBC levels are decreased)

Anemia

Cerebella hypoplasia in kittens

Rabies Vaccine Schedule

Kittens 12-16 weeks of age and older

Booster in 1 year

After, booster every 3 years

Type of vaccine for Rabies

Recombinant live vaccine with Canarypox virus

• Rabies DNA incorporated → creating structure of rabies virus to replicate and then put it on our cells so that they recognize it

Location of Rabies Vaccine

Right Rear limb

What does FELV vaccinate against

Feline Leukemia Virus

More common to vaccinate indoor-outdoor and outdoor cats

Schedule for FELV

2 doses given 3-4 wks apart as early as 8 wks of age

Type of vaccine for FELV

Recombinant live canarypox vaccine

FIV

none commercially available in U.S

did not grant immunity to all strains

Yearly booster

• Adjuvanted

• FISS risk

FISS

Feline Injection Site Sarcoma

Etiology for Feline Leukemia Virus

Retrovirus

Transmission of Feline Leukemia Virus

Direct and Indirect contact with nasal, saliva, urine, feces, and milk

• cat bites

• allogrooming

• aka lovers disease → shared resources = easier to spread

Chronic disease and cannot live with others

Clinical Signs of Feline Leukemia Virus

Cancers → lymphoma

Immune deficiency

Blood disorders → anemia

Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy

reactive lymph nodes

Etiology of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Retrovirus

Transmission of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

direct contact → bite wounds

Kitty AIDS virus or Cat Fight Disease

3 phases of the clinical signs of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

1. Acute Phase

2. Asymptomatic/Latent Phase

3. Progressive Phase

Acute Phase of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

1-3 months after exposure

Febrile

Possible lymphadenopathy

Asymptomatic/Latent Phase of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

can last from months to years

Progressive Phase of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

immune suppressed

secondary infections → urinary, respiratory, ocular, dermal

survival is only a few months

Gingivostomatitis is common

What does FIP stand for

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

FIP

mutation in the Feline Coronavirus

• all FIP cats have Feline Coronavirus, but not all Coronavirus have FIP

Cats can present asymptomatic to lethargic and having organ dysfunctions

BW will show severe elevation in globulins (antibodies and immunoproteins)

High mortality rates even with supportive/intensive care

2 forms of FIP

1. Wet form

2. Dry form

Wet form of FIP

cats develop fluid accumulation/effusions (Third Spacing)

• Peritoneal Space - abdomen

• Pleural Space - thorax

Rivalta test

Rivalta Test

Highly sensitive test, not very specific - aka high amount of false positive

Drop of effusion fluid with acetic acid/vinegar solution → watch how effusion fluid interacts with solution → positive test = drop will sink to the bottom

Dry Form of FIP

Visceral organ lesions (kidneys, liver, ocular)

Organ failure BW changes

Testing for Feline Infectious Peritonitis

PCR testing of blood, fluid, tissue

Treatment for Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Recent antiviral drug developments

• around 80% survival rate

GS-441524

Cheaper options have come onto the market for treatment

• Molnupiravir

• Remdesivir

GS-441524

Black market drug → recent government approval for compounding

84 day treatment period

expensive

Considerations for Feline Injection Site Sarcomas

Do not decrease vaccine volume

Do not vaccinate in the inter scapular space (scruff)

Vaccinate on the distal limb, ventral abdomen, or tail

Fecal Float

test to diagnose certain intestinal parasite by identifying parasitic eggs

Fecal Flotation Process

1 inch piece of stool less than 24 hours old

Relies on specific gravity solution and the density of the parasite

• usually solution of zinc sulfate or sodium nitrate

• usually shoot for specific gravity of 1.2-1.3

Eggs will rise to the top and stick to the slide

Downside of Fecal flotation

contaminants can cause misidentification of parasite

Coprophagy can cause non-infectious parasites to be found (Eimeria)

Variations in egg density could lead to misinterpretation

Hookworms

Roundworms

Whipworm

Roundworm Life Cycle

Vertical Transmission

Paratenic Host

Eggs are not immediately infectious at the time of defecation

Zoonotic

Vertical Transmission

spread from parent to offspring

Paratenic Host

an optional intermediate host that has passively acquired the parasite

Hookworm Life Cycle

Cutaneous Larva Migrans

Zoonotic

Cutaneous Larva Migrans

transdermal transmission of round worms

Whipworm Life Cycle

Fecal-Oral Transmission

Eggs are very resistant to desiccation, high temps, and UV exposure

Infective eggs and remain viable for many years

Not zoonotic

Fecal Oral Transmission

ingestion of the embryonated eggs is the infective stage