icawc 2011: rachel dean and jenny stavisky - feline and canine infectious diseases

School of Veterinary Medicine and Science

Infectious diseases and vaccination in cats and dogs

Rachel Dean and Jenny Stavisky


Introductions

• Rachel

• Jenny


What we do....

• Visit• Teach• Help


The Plan

• Principles of disease prevention & control– Bug, Host, Environment– Prevent, Protect, Control

• Infectious diseases– Parvovirus in dogs– Parvovirus in cats– Cat flu– Kennel cough


The problem

• Lots of animals• Lots of bugs• Stressful environment• Bugs are cleverer than we are

• The ideal future: no overpopulation + responsible pet ownership = no shelters


•Infectious diseases common in shelters•Caused by a variety of ‘bugs’•Bacteria, viruses, fungi, worms....•Viruses probably the biggest problem

Infectious diseases


1. Bug2. Host3. Environment

Relationships


BugThe Bug

• Which one(s)• Which animals are affected• How easily it’s transmitted• How well it survives in the environment


The Host

• Age• Pregnancy/ birth• Stress (physical or psychological)• Immunity (vaccination)


Environment

• Contact between animals

• Presence of FOMITES

• Hygiene – cleaning, surfaces, drains, bedding

• Presence of quarantine/ isolation


1. Bug2. Host3. Environment

Relationships

DISEASE


Three Part Strategy

1. PREVENT2. PROTECT3. CONTROL


PREVENT

• Are the animals in a healthy environment?


PREVENT


• Nutrition and changes in diet


PREVENT


• Nutrition and changes in diet• Stress


PREVENT


• Nutrition and changes in diet• Stress • Most vulnerable animals


PREVENT


• Nutrition and changes in diet• Stress • Most vulnerable animals • Vaccination


PROTECT

• Quarantine facilities for new arrivals


PROTECT

• Quarantine facilities for new arrivals

• Vaccinate!


What is a vaccine?• Similar to natural infection• Immune system responds to the vaccine

and protects the animal for a period of time

• The body remembers


Types of vaccine

• Lots of different types

• Vaccination is safer than natural infection


Expectations

• Nothing can stop an animal meeting a bug

• Some vaccines stop clinical disease and shedding of virus – canine parvovirus

• Some vaccines reduce clinical disease and shedding of virus – cat flu


PROTECT


PROTECT

• At least two vaccines when they start their vaccines

• Vaccinate as soon as possible after entering the shelter


PROTECT

• Quarantine facilities for new arrivals• Vaccinate!• Vaccinate at the right age


Can be too young


Exception to the rule

• Poor start in life• High risk


Never too old


PROTECT

• Quarantine facilities for new arrivals• Vaccinate!• Vaccinate at the right age• Isolate sick animals


PROTECT

• Quarantine facilities for new arrivals• Vaccinate!• Vaccinate at the right time• Isolate sick animals• Avoid spread of disease


PREVENT


CONTROL

• Recognise a problem early


CONTROL

• Recognise a problem early• Get EVERYONE involved


CONTROL

• Recognise a problem early• Get EVERYONE involved• Shut the area/shelter


CONTROL

• Recognise a problem early• Get EVERYONE involved• Shut the area/shelter• Euthanasia


CONTROL


Think



Teamwork!

• eds_catherding_low.MPG


The Plan

• Principles of disease prevention & control– Bug, Host, Environment– Prevent, Protect, Control

• Infectious diseases– Parvovirus in dogs– Parvovirus in cats– Cat flu– Kennel cough


Canine parvovirus

1. The bug• Small virus• Very hardy and difficult

to kill• Faecal-oral transmission• Likes rapidly dividing

cells


Canine parvovirus(and other causes of diarrhoea)Canine parvovirus

The host

• Puppies• At time of weaning• Change of diet, stress, disease



The environment• Presence of lots of virus• Other diseases• Stress


Canine parvovirus

The disease• Diarrhoea, often bloody• Vomiting• Miserable and lethargic• Dead litters


Canine parvovirus

Prevent• Most vulnerable• Foster pregnant bitches and litters• Hygiene



Protect• Dispose of faeces• Isolate where possible• Staff for isolation/clean last• Vaccinate


Canine parvovirus

• The vaccine works well• Stops disease and shedding• When and how frequently you give it will

depend on the situation• Pups get immunity directly from mother’s

milk – maternal antibody• Maternal antibody protects pups BUT

interferes with vaccine


Canine parvovirus

• Maternal antibody gives protection in first weeks of life

• Amount depends on: Immunity of mumMum’s milk productionHow much puppy

suckles


Age of pup (weeks)

0 4 8 12 16

Maternalantibody

level

PREVENT


Canine parvovirus

• If in doubt vaccinate

• Start early and finish late!



Control• Be suspicious early• Alert your vet• Hygiene very important• Euthanasia


Feline parvovirus

= Feline Panleukopenia

= Feline Infectious Enteritis


Feline Parvovirus1. The bug

– Very similar to the dog– Can spread to dogs

2. The host

3. The environment


Special cases

• wobblycat.avi


Feline Parvovirus

1. Prevent2. Protect

– Vaccination is very good

3. Control– ISOLATE!– Euthanasia?


Cat flu

1. The bug(s)• There are lots of them – viruses and

bacteria• Cat-cat spread• Some are very good at living outside the

body – FOMITES• Can be infected with no signs – ‘Carriers’• Latent infection


Cat flu

2. The host• Kittens are very vulnerable (> 6 weeks)• Adults can get ill too


Cat flu

3. The environment

• Lots of bugs and lots of cats

• Bugs survive well outside the cat

• Carriers


Cat flu

3. The environment

Stress makes it worse

Latency


Cat flu

1. PREVENT• Hygiene• Barriers• Ventilation


Cat flu

2. PROTECT• Keep quarantined until vaccinated

• Vaccination• reduces amount of disease/virus• does not prevent infection

• Isolate cats with flu


Cat flu

3. CONTROLAfter infection takes time to see disease

One sneeze = TROUBLE!

Call your vet

Isolate

Clean


Kennel cough

1. Bug• Lots of bugs

2. Host• Most dogs

3. Environment• Many kennels


Kennel cough

• kennel cough.avi


Kennel coughKennel cough

Disease• Coughing!!!• Snotty noses• Some mildly ill• Few very ill• Pneumonia


Kennel coughKennel cough

1. Prevent• Quarantine new dogs

2. Protect• Vaccines may help

3. Control• Isolate• Fomites!• Cats/humans


Think



Thank you

• Centre for Evidence based Veterinary Medicine

• School of Veterinary Medicine and Science• ICAWC• Shelters and animals• Brigita

icawc 2011: rachel dean and jenny stavisky - feline and canine infectious diseases

Lifestyle