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Feline Chlamydiosis
Feline Chlamydiosis is also known
as feline pneumonitis. It is a relatively mild, chronic upper respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia
psittaci. The main symptom is conjunctivitis, an abnormal eye discharge due to inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane
lining the inside of the eyelid. The infection can also cause nasal discharge, sneezing, and pneumonia. Left untreated, the
infection tends to become chronic, lasting weeks or months.
Chlamydiosis occurs worldwide and affects about
5% to 10% of the cat population. It is especially common in kittens (2 to 6 months old), in multicat households, and in pet
adoption shelters. Outbreaks tend to occur in overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and unsanitary settings; and where cats are
poorly fed or stressed, either physically (e.g., extreme temperatures) or psychologically (introduction of a new cat).
Feline pneumonitis is caused by Chlamydia
psittaci, an intracellular bacteria (i.e., bacteria that lives inside a cell), which also affects birds and humans. Chlamydia
psittaci reproduces in the cells that line the respiratory tract, causing irritation and the mild symptoms that characterize
chlamydiosis. It can also reproduce in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts but usually doesn't cause symptoms in
either place.
The transmission of Chlamydi can be spread by
Contact with contaminated objects, such as cages, food and water bowls, litter pans, pet owner's clothing, and pet owner's
hands, Contact with an infected cat's mouth, nose, or eye discharge and by Sneezing and coughing that propels the virus as
far as 4 feet.
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| Feline with Chlamydiosis (pink eye) |
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Feline Leukemia
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection is responsible
for more deaths among cats than any other infectious disease. The virus affects domestic cats and occurs in some wild felines
as well.
There are three main types of feline leukemia
virus: FeLV-A, FeLV-B, and FeLV-C. FeLV-positive cats can be infected with one, two, or all three types:
1.FeLV-A occurs in all FeLV-infected cats and
causes severe immunosuppression (weakened immune system).
2.FeLV-B occurs in about 50% of all FeLV-infected
cats and causes more neoplastic disease (i.e., tumors and other abnormal tissue growths) than cats infected only with FeLV-A.
3. FeLV-C occurs in about 1% of FeLV-infected cats and
causes severe anemia. FeLV-C occurs in about 1% of FeLV-infected cats and causes severe anemia.
After the initial infection, the virus replicates in the tonsils
and pharyngeal lymph nodes. Then it spreads via the bloodstream to other parts of the body, especially the lymph nodes, bone
marrow, and intestinal tissue, where it continues to replicate. Viremia, the presence of virus in the blood, usually shows
up 2 to 4 weeks after the initial infection.
FeLV is one of the most devastating feline diseases worldwide. In
the United States, FeLV infects about 2% to 3% of all cats. Sick cats are four times more likely than healthy cats to be infected
with FeLV. Researchers estimate that about 50% of cats with severe bacterial infections, and 75% of cats with toxoplasmosis'
a protozoan disease—also have FeLV infections.
Males are 1.7 times more likely to be infected than females,
and younger cats are more susceptible to infection than older cats. FeLV is found mostly in cats from 1 to 6 years old; the
average age is 3 years.
Outdoor cats are more likely to be infected with FeLV.
Less than 1% of healthy indoor cats in the United States are infected with FeLV, compared to 1% to 2% of healthy outdoor cats,
and more than 13% of sick stray cats. FeLV is more common in multicat households than in single-cat households, especially
when cats go outdoors.
FeLV can be transimtted by many ways. For example by
Bite wounds from infected cats, Blood transfusions, Mouth and nose contact with infected saliva or urine, Mutual grooming,
Nose-to-nose contact, Shared food dishes and water bowls, and by Sneezing.
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