Calicivirus

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Symptoms
Calicivirus affects the upper respiratory system, the eyes, the musculoskeletal system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms include the following:

• Acute, painful lameness due to tenderness in the joints (arthritis) or muscles (myalgia)
• Fever
• Mild loss of appetite
• Pneumonia, often accompanied by labored, difficult breathing
• Ulcerations (pus-filled sores) on the tongue, palate, lips, or tip of the nose
• Ulcers around the claws, on the bottom of the feet and between the toes
• Upper respiratory infection with eye and nose discharge, (usually with little sneezing)

Calicivirus infection usually develops suddenly. Most infected cats appear healthy and alert; they may have ulcers and no other symptoms (i.e., no fever or pain). Some cats may have mild secondary bacterial infections that are similar to those associated with FHV.

Diagnosis

Calicivirus is usually diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and the cat's medical history (i.e., the cat's vaccination status and past exposure). Blood tests aren't usually informative. Other laboratory tests may be conducted to isolate the virus and confirm the diagnosis, such as:

• Immunofluorescent assays of lung tissue — special proteins labeled with a fluorescent chemical to detect the presence of FCV antigens, proteins the immune system manufactures to fight the virus
• Oropharyngeal (throat) cultures
• Serum testing— to identify paired serum samples, a rise in titer over the course of 2 weeks is considered a positive diagnosis
• X-ray—to detect pneumonia

Differential diagnosis
Clinical symptoms are similar to those of other feline upper respiratory infections, but cats with calicivirus are more likely to have ulcers in their mouth or on their paws.

Cats with rhinotracheitis virus sneeze more, have more eye discharge and inflammation, and are more likely to have pneumonia. Cats with feline chlamydiosis have chronic conjunctivitis (discharge, pain, and swelling of the eye caused by inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelid).

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