DISSEMINATION OF FELINE CALICIVIRUS DESEASE IN MEGALOPOLIS
T. G. Kozlenko, V. V. Nedosekov
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National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine,
15 Heroiv Oborony str., Kyiv 03041, Ukraine
The article presents the results of monitoring researches conducted in order to establish the levels of spread of the feline calicivirus disease and the ways of its manifestation in Kyiv during the period of 2012–2016. In particular, 2085 cats have been clinically examined, and 174 of them have been determined to have feline calicivirus. According to the results of our researches, the outbred cats are most vulnerable to the disease — 36.2 % of all infected. They are closely followed by the British cats — 16.1 %, Persian cats — 7.5 %, and also Russian Sphynx cats — 20.1 %.
Young animals aged from 1 to 6 months suffer from the disease most frequently (48.8 %). The group of cats that suffers the least from feline calicivirus is of adult animals aged from 2 years and older (6.9 %). The course of infection largely depends on animal welfare. Acutely and with a high percentage of mortality, it occurs within kittens that are 2–6 months old. The infection of adult cats, especially those kept in groups, often acquires a latent or chronic nature.
Feline calicivirus in Kyiv is determined throughout the year in the form of enzootics, with spring and autumn disease rises.
The largest number of sick animals was registered in the autumn — 37 %, and in the spring — 29 %. The earliest major clinical sign of the acute course of disease is a serous conjunctivitis (60 %), and rhinitis. The signs of chronic nature of disease are catarrhal tracheitis and bronchitis, and sometimes pneumonia (20 % of animals).
The results of the study provide an opportunity to expand scientific knowledge about the role of the feline calicivirus in the event of mass illness in animals. They also can be used for further study epizootology viral infections in cats in order to improve preventive measures.
Keywords: FELINE CALICIVIRUS, CATS, ETIOLOGY, SPREAD, COURSE, INFECTION, VIRUS
