VIOLIN: Vaccine Investigation and Online Information Network

Feline calicivirus

Table of Contents

General Information
Vaccine Related Pathogen Genes
1. F9 (Protective antigen)
Vaccine Information
References

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

11978

2. Disease:

Feline Respiratory Infections

3. Introduction

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a highly infectious pathogen of cats with a widespread distribution in the feline population. The virus typically causes
moderate, self-limiting acute oral and upper respiratory tract disease. However,some strains induce lameness and recently, more virulent strains have evolved, particularly in the USA. The virus belongs to the Caliciviridae, a family of viruses which includes important pathogens of man and animals. Feline calicivirus has a small single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome of approximately 7.7 kb. Being genetically diverse, FCV is associated with a range of clinical syndromes from inapparent infections to relatively mild oral and upper respiratory tract disease with or without acute lameness. A proportion of FCV infected cats that recover from acute disease, remain persistently infected. Vaccination against FCV has been available for many years and has effectively reduced the incidence of clinical disease (Radford et al., 2007).

4. Microbial Pathogenesis

Cats can be infected with FCV via the nasal, oral or conjunctival routes. The virus replicates mainly in the oral and respiratory tissues, although some strains vary in their tissue tropisms and pathogenicity, such that virus has also been found in visceral tissues, feces and occasionally in urine. The significance of this to transmission is unknown but is thought to be minimal. Oral ulceration is the most consistent pathological feature of FCV-induced oral and upper respiratory tract disease. Ulcers begin as vesicles, typically on the margin of the tongue but also in other locations. These subsequently rupture, with necrosis of the overlying epithelium and infiltration of neutrophils at the periphery and base. Healing generally takes place over a period of two to three weeks. Pulmonary lesions occur more rarely and appear to result from an initial focal alveolitis, leading to areas of acute exudative pneumonia and then to the development of a proliferative, interstitial pneumonia. Lesions seen in joints of cats with FCV associated lameness consist of an acute synovitis with thickening of the synovial membrane and an increase in quantity of synovial fluid within the joint. FCV can also cause systemic disease (Radford et al., 2007).

Link to hazard mechanism of Feline calicivirus in HazARD.