Experimental induction of feline viral rhinotracheitis virus re-excretion in FVR-recovered cats

The re-excretion of feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) virus (feline herpesvirus I) by FVR-recovered cats is recorded both spontaneously and following a variety of stimuli, namely, corticosteroid administration, change of housing, and parturition and lactation. At least 27 of 33 (82%) FVR-recovered cats studied were shown to be viral carriers. The carrier state was characterised by periods of viral latency interspersed with episodes of viral shedding. Administration of 0-75 mg dexamethasone trimethylacetate and 2-25 mg prednisolone on days 0,2 and 4 resulted in re-excretion after a mean lag period of 7-2 days in 22 of 32 (69%) FVR-recovered cats on a total of 31 of 57 (54%) occasions. Rehousing resulted in virus re-excretion after a mean lag period of 7-2 days in four of 22 (18%) cats tested on a total of six of 40 (15%) occasions. Apparently spontaneous shedding occurred on a total of 10 occasions in nine of 31 (29%) cats during a mean observation period of 8-8 months. Four of six FVR-recovered queens in a total of four of 10 litters (40%) shed virus within two to 10 weeks of parturition. Serum neutralising antibody titres were generally boosted at the time of first re-infection but afterwards remained essentially constant. Although 82% of cats in these studies were shown to be viral carriers, only 45% of cats shed virus spontaneously or as a result of the natural stress situations and it is postulted that these naturally excreting cats are of most significance epidemiologically.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. Fascetti, D. J. Maggs, M. L. Kanchuk, H. E. Clarke, and Q. R. Rogers Excess Dietary Lysine Does Not Cause Lysine-Arginine Antagonism in Adult Cats J. Nutr., August 1, 2004; 134(8): 2042S - 2045S. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Vogtlin, C. Fraefel, S. Albini, C. M. Leutenegger, E. Schraner, B. Spiess, H. Lutz, and M. Ackermann Quantification of Feline Herpesvirus 1 DNA in Ocular Fluid Samples of Clinically Diseased Cats by Real-Time TaqMan PCR J. Clin. Microbiol., February 1, 2002; 40(2): 519 - 523. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]