Environmental Contamination and Hygienic Measures After Feline Calicivirus Field Strain Infections of Cats in a Research Facility

Spiri, Andrea Monika; Meli, Marina Luisa; Riond, Barbara; Herbert, Imogen; Hosie, Margaret J.; Hofmann-Lehmann, Regina (2019). Environmental Contamination and Hygienic Measures After Feline Calicivirus Field Strain Infections of Cats in a Research Facility. Viruses, 11(10) Molecular Diversity Preservation International MDPI 10.3390/v11100958

[img]
Preview
Text
Spiri_2019_viruses-11-00958.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY).

Download (1MB) | Preview

Feline calicivirus (FCV) can cause painful oral ulcerations, salivation, gingivitis/stomatitis, fever and depression in infected cats; highly virulent virus variants can lead to fatal epizootic outbreaks. Viral transmission occurs directly or indirectly via fomites. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and viability of FCV in the environment after sequential oronasal infections of specified pathogen-free cats with two FCV field strains in a research facility. Replicating virus was detected in saliva swabs from all ten cats after the first and in four out of ten cats after the second FCV exposure using virus isolation to identify FCV shedders. In the environment, where cleaning, but no disinfection took place, FCV viral RNA was detectable using RT-qPCR on all tested items and surfaces, including cat hair. However, only very limited evidence was found of replicating virus using virus isolation. Viral RNA remained demonstrable for at least 28 days after shedding had ceased in all cats. Disinfection with 5% sodium bicarbonate (and IncidinTM Plus) and barrier measures were effective in that no viral RNA was detectable outside the cat rooms. Our findings are important for any multicat environment to optimize hygienic measures against FCV infection.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

ISSN:

1999-4915

Publisher:

Molecular Diversity Preservation International MDPI

Language:

English

Submitter:

Marceline Brodmann

Date Deposited:

12 Aug 2021 17:55

Last Modified:

13 Sep 2021 09:35

Publisher DOI:

10.3390/v11100958

PubMed ID:

31627345

Uncontrolled Keywords:

RT-qPCR; cats; disinfection; environmental testing; feline calicivirus; hygienic measures; shedding; sodium bicarbonate; veterinary sciences; virus isolation; virus survival.

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/158161

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/158161

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback