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Studies on poxvirus infection in cats.
M Bennett1, R M Gaskell, C J Gaskell
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, U.K.
Archives of Virology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Cowpox virus causes severe systemic disease in domestic cats, particularly via intradermal inoculation. Skin scarification can replicate natural cowpox infections and lead to limited cat-to-cat transmission.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Pathogen Research
- Feline Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cowpox virus poses a potential threat to domestic cats.
- Understanding cowpox pathogenesis in felines is crucial for disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical disease development and pathogenesis of cowpox virus in domestic cats.
- To determine the effects of different inoculation routes on disease severity and transmission.
Main Methods:
- Domestic cats were inoculated with varying doses of cowpox virus via intradermal injection, skin scarification, and oronasal routes.
- Viral load was quantified in various tissues at different time points post-inoculation.
- Cat-to-cat transmission was assessed using sentinel cats.
Main Results:
- Intradermal inoculation with as little as 5 plaque-forming units (pfu) caused skin lesions, while higher doses (≥10^5 pfu) led to severe systemic disease.
- High viral titers were found in skin lesions and turbinates; viraemia was detected from 5 days post-inoculation.
- Skin scarification reproduced natural disease, with limited subclinical transmission to sentinel cats; oronasal inoculation caused milder disease without transmission.
Conclusions:
- Cowpox virus can cause severe disease in cats, with the route of inoculation significantly influencing severity and transmission.
- Skin scarification is an effective method for experimentally inducing naturally acquired cowpox disease in cats.
- While cat-to-cat transmission is possible, it appears limited, particularly via oronasal routes.