Serology-based approach in the clinical evaluation of neonatal viral eye diseases in kittens: calicivirus, herpesvirus and panleukopenia virus

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the distribution of feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), which cause neonatal feline viral diseases in kittens aged one to three months, using a Dot-ELISA bases antibody test kit. The studied parameters included the animals" sex, clinical signs and the Dot-ELISA test kit values. Twenty kittens had eye lesions and 20 were without eye lesions. Basic ophthalmologic examinations were performed, including pupil, corneal, palpebral and menace response reflexes, direct ophthalmoscopy, and fluorescein staining. The study population consisted of 40 kittens (25 female and 15 male); 3 of them are British shorthaired and the rest is 37 tabby kittens. In half of the 20 kittens with eye lesions, the lesions were bilateral and the most common clinical lesions were conjunctivitis, mucopurulent discharge, and blepharospasm. Other notable clinical findings were iris staphyloma, corneal opacity, symblepharon, and panophthalmitis. A higher rate of seropositive results was determined against Calicivirus in kittens. The severity and appearance of the cases could vary depending on the virus accompanying the lesions. In conclusion, the Feline Calicivirus was the most frequently detected virus in 1 to 3-month-old kittens in this study and the clinical presentation may change according to the accompanying virus titers.

Keywords

• dot-elisa
• eye disease
• kitten
• newborn
• viral infection