Feline Herpes Virus: Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment G

How Cats Contract Feline Herpesvirus

The virus is present in the secretions from a cat's nose, eyes, and throat. Most often, transmission occurs through direct contact with the nose or by the cat sneezing. This mode of spread can extend about one meter. The virus is typically shed about 14 days after infection, following a latent period of 2 to 6 days.

Symptoms of Feline Herpesvirus

Cats may exhibit symptoms such as lethargy, sneezing, and coughing, followed by photophobia, conjunctivitis, and mucous discharge from the eyes and nose. The cat's body temperature may rapidly rise, and symptoms like intermittent sneezing, deepthroated coughing, and ulcers on the tongue and upper palate can also occur. Secondary bacterial infections can lead to purulent discharge from the eyes and nose. Chronic infections may result in chronic sinusitis, ulcerative keratitis, and panophthalmitis. Young kittens infected with the virus may suffer from severe conjunctivitis and ulcerative keratitis. In acute cases, symptoms can last for 10 to 14 days, with a low mortality rate in adult cats, whereas in kittens, it can be as high as 20% to 30%. Viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is typically diagnosed when the infection is limited to the upper respiratory tract. Cats may also contract the virus through wounds on their skin by licking, leading to skin ulcers or localized ulcers on the face due to infection from nasal and eye secretions. Toxemia can cause pregnant queens to transmit the virus to their fetuses, resulting in abortion.

Incidence of Feline Herpesvirus

In healthy groups, the incidence of virus shedding may be less than 1%. In symptomatic groups, the shedding rate can reach 20%, and in harsh environments, up to 50% of cats may be shedding the virus after one week. Systemic infections have been detected in newborn kittens, but this does not necessarily mean the mother was infected. Newborn kittens may show signs of weakness, drowsiness, and abdominal breathing, and may even die before clinical symptoms appear.

Diagnosis of Feline Herpesvirus

PCR is now commonly used for detecting the presence of feline herpesvirus DNA in conjunctival, corneal, or oropharyngeal swabs, corneal scrapings, aqueous humor, corneal stroma, blood, or biopsy samples. It is a highly sensitive and accurate method.

Treatment of Feline Herpesvirus

Supportive therapy is essential, especially for cats that may not eat due to loss of smell and oral ulcers. Offering palatable food and warming it appropriately can stimulate appetite. If a cat does not eat voluntarily for more than 3 days, a feeding tube may be recommended. All acute cases should be treated with broadspectrum antibiotics with good respiratory penetration to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Nasal discharge should be cleaned with saline solution, and vaseline ointment can be applied to prevent mucus from sticking around the nostrils. Mucolytic drugs, such as bromhexine (bromhexine hydrochloride), can also be administered. For the eyes, nonsteroidal antibiotic eye drops or ointments should be used several times a day. Nebulization therapy can help dissolve secretions and maintain respiratory humidity. Note: Nebulization is a crucial treatment method.

Prognosis: After recovery, cats may carry the virus for life and can experience recurrences when their immunity is low. It is recommended to enhance feeding management, supplement lysine, and provide adequate nutrition to boost resistance.