NHR, but I know a lot of y'all have cats

[calypso]

This has been identified in the Sacramento, California area so far, so Northern California people should pay most attention. I'll check with Davis and Cornell tomorrow to find out what they're hearing in other parts of the country.

Kittens are most at risk, but adults can be taken down as well. And, even if the disease doesn't get them - the lack of food can bring on liver failure very quickly. So, if your cat is showing any symptoms, isolate and seek vet care immediately. Neither of these diseases just "run their course".

From: Susan Clarkson <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [SAAC] Diseases Killing Kittens
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 12:13:05 -0700
>
>This message is going out to the lucky few who aren't already aware of the
>problem. Sacramento and the surrounding area are being hit hard by a
>combination of a virulent form of Calici Virus and by Feline Parvo
>(Panlukemia). Blue Revine Animal hospital in Folsom had to do genetic
>testing to identify the Calici as it acts different from what we have had
>to deal with in the past and is much more deadly. The only real way to
>keep kittens (and adults) from dying is to vaccinate. Blue Ravine is
>recommendong using a modified live virus for any kittens who may have been
>exposed as the immune response is quicker than with a killed virus. Use
>killed virus on very young kittens and on sick kittens. We are vaccinating
>as young as 4 weeks, particularity if there is no mom. Blue Ravine hasn't
>been able to find any medication that saves these kittens once they become
>ill. Symptoms: They stop eating and become very lethargic. In some
>cases, but not all, they drool. We have been able to save a handful with
>hydration and force feeding, but most of them die. Fort Doge is now making
>a vaccine that protects against the virulent form of Calici. Other
>manufactures may be as well.
>
>PLEASE VACCINATE EVERY KITTEN IN YOUR CARE! PLEASE URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
>PUBLIC WITH WHOM YOU HAVE CONTACT TO VACCINATE! THIS VIRUS IS AIRBORNE.
>They can bring it in on their clothes and hands. If they walk over an area
>where a sick cat has been, they can track it in on their shoes. The small
>price of a vaccine may mean the difference in life for your cats!
>
>Susan Clarkson
>Cats About Town
>
><br>
><br>
>Sacramento Area Animal Coalition
>Working Together to Save Animal Lives
>On the web at www.sacanimal.org
>

[Admin]

Thanks Caly!

[calypso]

Yup - it's everywhere....We will probably revaccinate all of ours. (ack!)

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeanne Prins never would have suspected her cats could be at risk for a deadly virus. As a longtime cat owner, Prins took precautions to keep her feline friends safe from infectious disease. Unfortunately, Prins learned about an emerging and deadly threat to cats when she lost three of her own unexpectedly. (1,2,3,4)

The disease is virulent systemic feline calicivirus (VS-FCV), a highly contagious and potentially fatal mutation of traditional calicivirus. While traditional feline calicivirus is a common cold-like viral disease that rarely causes serious complications and is rarely fatal, VS-FCV has a significantly higher mortality rate. (1,2)

"Cats affected by this disease can die, and those that do not die may take several weeks to return to normal," says Gary D. Norsworthy, DVM, DABPV, owner of Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Prins took measures to keep her cats away from infectious diseases by never letting them outdoors, keeping up with their vaccinations and being cautious about letting new animals into the house. VS-FCV, however, still made its way into her home, and once the disease was there, it spread rapidly, affecting five cats from six months to 20 years of age. Within days of showing clinical signs of infection, three of Prins' cats died.

In addition to the mortality rate, VS-FCV is a danger because it can be transmitted easily from cat to cat through hair, dander, saliva, blood, feces, urine, and eye and nose secretions. It also can be transmitted without any direct exposure to an infected cat because the virus spreads easily via objects, such as clothing, tables, doorknobs, shoes and hands.

"A person could touch an infected cat and then touch a doorknob. The next person who touches the doorknob can pass the disease on to a different cat," says Dr. Norsworthy.

Prins believes it was she, and not another animal, who brought the disease into her home. "One of the scariest things about this disease is how rapidly and easily it can spread," says Prins, an employee at Midwest Veterinary Supply in Owings Mills, Md. "Unfortunately, I probably brought this disease home to my cats by simply shaking the wrong hand somewhere."

Now, however, pet owners and veterinarians can take preventive action with a new vaccine that protects against VS-FCV. CaliciVax(TM), from Fort Dodge Animal Health, is the only vaccine licensed and proved effective against VS- FCV. It also protects against the traditional calicivirus, providing broader protection.

"I've started putting VS-FCV into my core vaccination protocol," says Dr. Norsworthy. "During the next year, all the cats I immunize will be vaccinated to help protect them against this devastating disease."

Signs of VS-FCV infection can include high fever, swelling of the limbs and face, sores and hair loss - especially on the face, muzzle and feet - discharge from the nose and eyes, anorexia and depression. A pet owner always should consult with his or her veterinarian about the health of a cat and the most appropriate preventive health care program, based on a pet's individual disease risk factors.

As for Prins, she's using her experience to help build awareness about VS-FCV. She wants to ensure that other pet owners don't suffer the same tragic outcome.

"My mission is to spread the word about VS-FCV and the vaccine that can prevent it - because I won't allow my cats to have died in vain," says Prins. "Cat owners and their veterinarians need to take this disease seriously and get their cats vaccinated now."

Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of Wyeth, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of animal health products for the companion animal, livestock, equine, swine and poultry industries in North America and international markets. Key feline products include ProMeris(TM) for cats and the Fel-O-Vax(R) and Fel-O-Guard(TM) vaccine lines.

[TashGaia]

Well crap....

Thank you. I will be taking my cat in this weekend. Does anyone know if it is in WA too?

[atticus]

It is in Oregon, we had a client that has her cat at the emergency clinic with Panluk. The humane society has been seeing some nasty Calci cases as well. One of our clients cats had the worst case of Calici I have ever seen in 14 years, I thought the cat would die.

[mickeyfan3]

Thanks for the info...I'm taking Bailee in tomorrow for a check up and kidney counts...I'll ask the vet about this.

[calypso]

I heard back from my friend at Cornell, and here's what she had to say...

"The virulent hemorrhagic calicivirus is a tough disease when it occurs; however! we are not recommending the vaccine at this time for two reasons: First, it is a rare disease and the vaccine is adjuvanted so one must weigh the risk of infection against the risk of a vaccine-associated-sarcoma. Second, it appears that each outbreak has been caused by a different genetic mutation so it is not clear at all if the vaccine will be protective. When a non-adjuvanted vaccine becomes available the question of use will be more difficult."

At first I didn't understand the "more difficult" at the end, but I think she's referring to "do I vaccinate or not given this is a mutating virus and it might not cover" vs now it's easy - it may not work, and it may cause cancer.

Check with your own vet though - it depends on the risk factors. Shelters and rescues in Sacto are at high risk for calici, so I imagine they are vaccinating like crazy. I think we'll hold off for now.

[strawberryfelidos]

The mutant form of the Calici virus is also in Wisconsin, it has been identified in Washington County and the surrounding areas.

[calypso]

Yeah, and apparently each mutation may be a little different so the effectiveness of the new Fort Dodge vaccine may vary from nothing to very effective. No way for us "lay people" to know. AND, it contains the agent that is suspected of causing cancer (vaccine related sarcoma) in cats.

We're increasing our infection control procedures, but will not be revaccinating with this new vax at this time.

But talk it over with your vets before you make the decision. It may be warranted if you are in a "hot zone".

mta: y'know we've faced down a number of diseases and I've found the best treatment is prevention. There is a lot to be said for washing your hands routinely as soon as you enter the house, don't wear shoes in the house (shoes are AMAZING vectors for disease), changing clothes if you've been in a 'risky" place - and for the record, any time you go to the vet it's "risky" - and if someone looks funky, isolate them. Basic stuff, but it works pretty well. All my cats (personal and rescue) are indoor only cats, which also reduces the risk of exposure to a lot of stuff.