Feline Herpesvirus

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Common symptoms of FHV-1 infection include the following:

• Coughing
• Fever (up to 106°F or 41°C)
• Loss of appetite and weight loss (anorexia)
• Runny nose (rhinitis)
• Sneezing attacks
• Runny eyes

Anorexia results from an inability to smell, loss of appetite, fever, and general malaise. It is one of the more severe symptoms of rhinotracheitis and usually requires assisted feeding.

Most cats infected with FHV-1 have runny eyes due to conjunctivitis and/or ulcerative keratitis. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent membrane that lines the eyelid. The inflammation leads to discharge, swelling, and pain; the cat's eyes may be red and weepy. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a number of underlying conditions.

Ulcerative keratitis is inflammation and ulceration of the cornea, the transparent front portion of the eye that gathers light rays and directs them into the eye. Ulcerations on the cornea can cause a serious threat to an animal's eyesight. In addition to discharge from the eye, signs of corneal ulcers include squinting, turning away from light, obvious discomfort, and pawing at the eyes.

Infection during pregnancy
Though rhinotracheitis primarily affects the upper respiratory tract, it can also cause complications during pregnancy, including

• bacterial pneumonia in young kittens,
• sickly newborn kittens, and
• spontaneous abortion.

Diagnosis
FHV-1 is usually diagnosed on the basis of the cat's medical history and clinical symptoms. Laboratory tests that detect the virus in the cat's nasal or eye secretions can confirm the diagnosis.

Several different tests can identify FHV-1 in eye and nasal secretions.

An immunofluorescent assay of secretions from the nose or conjunctiva (membrane lining the eyelid) uses special proteins labeled with a fluorescent chemical to detect the presence of FHV-1 antibodies (proteins that the immune system makes to fight the virus).

The virus can be isolated with pharyngeal swab samples (the pharynx is the passageway that leads from the nose to the larynx, and from the mouth to the esophagus). Cotton or gauze is used to collect respiratory tract secretions from the pharynx.

Smears from the conjunctiva can be used to detect structures inside the nucleus of a viral-infected cell.

Differential diagnosis
Clinical symptoms are similar to those of other feline upper respiratory infections. Cats with feline calicivirus infection do not sneeze as often and have less eye discharge and inflammation; they are also more likely to have pneumonia. Cats with chlamydiosis have more chronic conjunctivitis (discharge, pain, and swelling of the eye).

Bacterial infections usually do not involve the eyes and nose.

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