8. Infectious diseases of dogs & cats affecting the reproductive system

What are examples of diseases of the male reproductive system?

1. Bacterial prostatitis: Most frequent E. coli

2. Bacterial orchitis & epididymitis: Most frequent E. coli,

3. Mycotic balanoposthitis: Blastomyces dermatitis

What are examples of diseases of the female reproductive system?

1. Vaginitis:

   1. Bacterial: E. coli, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus

   2. Viral: CHV-1

2. Metritis:

   1. Bacterial: E. coli, Mycoplasma canis,

   2. Viral: CHV,CDV, CAV

3. Pyometra:

   1. E. coli, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Serratia marcenses, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

What are examples of infectious diseases affecting the reproductive system?

1. Canine herpesvirus

2. Brucellosis

3. Listeriosis

4. Feline panleukopenia infection

What is the causative agent of Canine Herpesvirus Infection?

Canine herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1)

What are some other names for Canine Herpesvirus Infection?

Fading puppy syndrome, fatal haemorrhagic disease

How is Canine Herpesvirus transmitted?

1. Direct contact with aerosol, vaginal and nasal secretions, saliva

2. Transplacental infection

3. Lifelong latent infection. Reactivation: stress (pregnancy, disease, drugs)

Where does CHV-1 have affinity for?

1. Upper respiratory tract

2. Genital mucosa

3. GIT

4. CNS

Why are puppies more susceptible to CHV?

Replicates in cooler body areas (sensitive to temperatures over 37C)

Puppies < 3 weeks lack thermoregulation

What is the pathogenesis of CHV in foetuses?

Leukocyte-associated viremia → lymphoid hyperplasia → generalised infection → immunosuppression

What are some clinical signs of Canine Herpesvirus in adult dogs?

Asymptomatic, mild respiratory signs (CIRDC), ocular discharge, abortions, stillbirths, mummification, vesicular lesions on genitals

What are the clinical signs of Canine Herpesvirus in puppies?

1-3 weeks old. Rapid shallow respiration, abdominal pain, refusal of food, vomiting, haemorrhages, ataxia, sudden death. No fever.

How can the effect of CHV change depending on exposure during pregnancy?

1. Naive pregnant bitches: foetal loss, mummification, foetal death & expulsion, or premature delivery of live puppies.

2. Pregnant bitches previously infected: usually produce normal litters.

   1. Maternal antibodies or immune lymphocytes acquired from milk of seropositive bitches are capable of protecting puppies from clinical consequences of CHV1 infection

What are the clinical signs of neonatal exposure to CHV?

Anorexia, growth retardation, vocalisation, haemorrhages (vasculitis), ataxia. Sudden death - 6-7d

What are post-mortem signs of CHV?

Haemorrhages in all internal organs. Speckled kidneys

How is Canine Herpesvirus diagnosed?

1. Clinical signs

2. PCR (acute infection; nasal or vaginal swabs)

3. Serology (ELISA - Ab remains high for 2 months)

4. Virus isolation: dog kidney cells

5. Diagnosis of CHV infection of puppies is usually made at necropsy

What is the treatment for Canine Herpesvirus?

• Young puppies: Hyperimmune serum (anaphylactic risk)

• Adults: Antiviral (acyclovir)

How is Canine Herpesvirus prevented?

1. Isolation

2. Stopping breeding/castration

3. Vaccination of bitch (1: 1st day of heat to 10 days post-mating; 2: 1-2 weeks before birth)

   1. Vaccine only protects against clinical signs in puppies

What is the vaccine against CHV-1?

Eurican Herpes 205

What is the causative agent of Brucellosis?

Brucella canis

Is Brucellosis zoonotic?

Yes

How is brucellosis transmitted?

1. Ingestion of abortion/ birthing fluids, vertical, venereal. Through conjunctiva, vaginal fluid.

2. Bacteria survive in the environment for several months. Shed for 6 weeks after abortion (can be up to two years)

What is the pathogenesis of brucellosis?

Invade phagocytic cells (intracellular) → invade unnoticed by the innate immune system → high affinity for the reproductive tract (forms granulomas)

What are some clinical signs of Brucellosis?

Abortions, stillbirths, conception failures, prolonged vaginal discharge, generalised lymphadenitis, epididymitis, periorchitis, prostatitis, discospondylitis

How is Brucellosis diagnosed?

PCR, anamnesis, clinical signs, rose bengal test (Ab), AGID, ELISA, Ziehl-Neelsen staining

When testing for Brucella infection, are antigens or antibodies detected?

Antibodies

Which samples are used for PCR diagnosis of brucellosis?

Vaginal exudate, aborted puppies, blood, semen

What is the treatment for Brucellosis?

Euthanasia (not legally required, but recommended)

(Long-term antibiotics (streptomycin/gentamicin + tetracycline), neutering)

What is the causative agent of Listeriosis?

Listeria monocytogenes

What are the clinical signs of Listeriosis?

Abortions

What is the prevention for listeriosis?

Avoid dogs & cats consuming affected ruminant foetuses & raw meat

What is the treatment for Listeriosis?

Penicillin

What is the aetiology of feline panleukopenia infection?

Feline parvovirus

How is feline panleukopenia transmitted?

Direct contact: body fluids, faeces.

Indirect contact: fomites; bedding, food dishes, or clothes of humans

Transplacental in pregnant queens

Recovered cats become carriers, persists in the environment.

Seasonal occurrence- more in autumn

What type of cells does feline parvovirus infect and destroy?

1. Intestinal crypt epithelium (ulceration)

2. Actively dividing cells in bone marrow, lymphoid tissues

What are the clinical signs of feline panleukopenia?

Gastroenteritis, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, liver failure, sudden death

Foetus/neonates: cerebellar hypoplasia (2nd/3rd trimester) → ataxia

Kittens: bloody diarrhoea, anaemia, leukopenia, lethargy

Older: enteritis, diarrhoea, pain, foetal death (1st trimester), panleukopenia (especially neutropenia)

What is a common secondary bacterial infection with feline panleukopenia?

Clostridium perfringens

How does Feline panleukopenia affect pregnant queens?

Causes embryonic resorption, foetal mummification, abortion, stillbirth

How is feline panleukopenia diagnosed?

1. History (no vaccine), clinical signs

2. Haematology: leukopenia, anaemia

3. Rapid test (faecal Ag ELISA)

4. Oro-pharyngeal mucosal swabs

What is the treatment for feline panleukopenia?

1. Causal: Hyperimmune serum (vaccination)

2. Symptomatic: Antiemetics, diazepam, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitor.

3. Supportive: Rehydration (5% dextrose in saline), blood transfusions, ATB for 2nd bacterial infections.

How is feline panleukopenia prevented?

Vaccination (6-8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 1 year, booster every 3 years or yearly if high risk)

What are some other infectious agents that can affect the reproductive system in dogs and cats?

Parvovirus, FeLV, FIV, Mycoplasma, Toxoplasma gondii, transmissible venereal tumours

What is the ethical dilemma of treating CHV?

It goes into latency so the cat is infected for life