IACWC 2015 - Workshop - Rick Hayman - Infection control in the animal shelter
2.3 icawc 10 snuffles mr
1. Snuffles, scabs and squitsSnuffles, scabs and squits
Dealing with feline infectious disease in aDealing with feline infectious disease in a
sheltershelter
Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVSMaggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS
Director of Veterinary ServicesDirector of Veterinary Services
Cats ProtectionCats Protection
3. What makes cats different?What makes cats different?
Cats were originally solitary hunters.Cats were originally solitary hunters.
Not evolved to live in close proximity with otherNot evolved to live in close proximity with other
cats.cats.
Cats can be carriers of disease without showingCats can be carriers of disease without showing
symptomssymptoms
4. Infectious disease is more likelyInfectious disease is more likely
in the shelter situation because:in the shelter situation because:
Population densityPopulation density
Transient populationTransient population
Frequent introduction of differentFrequent introduction of different
infectious agentsinfectious agents
StressStress
Environmental factors eg ventilationEnvironmental factors eg ventilation
Host susceptibilty eg age, health statusHost susceptibilty eg age, health status
6. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
SignsSigns
Intermittent sneezingIntermittent sneezing
Runny nose and eyesRunny nose and eyes
Swelling of the eyelidsSwelling of the eyelids
UlcersUlcers
DribblingDribbling
High temperatureHigh temperature
Quiet and subduedQuiet and subdued
Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite
Cough or loss of voiceCough or loss of voice
LamenessLameness
Gingivo-stomatitisGingivo-stomatitis
10. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Oral or conjunctival swabs are needed for aOral or conjunctival swabs are needed for a
definitive diagnosisdefinitive diagnosis
11. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Good nursing careGood nursing care
No drugs available to kill virusesNo drugs available to kill viruses
Antibiotics for secondary infectionsAntibiotics for secondary infections
DecongestantsDecongestants
Pain killersPain killers
12. Cat ‘flu CarriersCat ‘flu Carriers
Cats with herpes virus can become infected forCats with herpes virus can become infected for
lifelife
They can show symptoms or shed the virusThey can show symptoms or shed the virus
intermittently especially when stressedintermittently especially when stressed
Cats with calcivirus can shed the virus forCats with calcivirus can shed the virus for
many weeks or occasionally for lifemany weeks or occasionally for life
Chlamydophila can be cured but if not treatedChlamydophila can be cured but if not treated
thoroughly it will recurthoroughly it will recur
13. RingwormRingworm
CauseCause
A fungus known as a dermatophyteA fungus known as a dermatophyte
90% of cases in cats caused by90% of cases in cats caused by
Microsporum canisMicrosporum canis
Trichophyton speciesTrichophyton species
17. RingwormRingworm
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Appropriate disinfectantsAppropriate disinfectants
Oral antifungal medicationOral antifungal medication
Topical treatmentsTopical treatments
If long haired may need clippingIf long haired may need clipping
Ideally have 3 negative culture tests beforeIdeally have 3 negative culture tests before
hominghoming
19. Feline parvovirusFeline parvovirus
Greatest disease threat to any rescueGreatest disease threat to any rescue
facilityfacility
Very high death rate, particularly inVery high death rate, particularly in
unvaccinated kittensunvaccinated kittens
20. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
Three different names for the sameThree different names for the same
diseasedisease
Feline parvovirusFeline parvovirus
Feline infectious enteritisFeline infectious enteritis
Feline panleucopeniaFeline panleucopenia
Spread between cats by direct or indirectSpread between cats by direct or indirect
contact with contaminated faecescontact with contaminated faeces
Survives in the environment a long timeSurvives in the environment a long time
21. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
SignsSigns
Severe vomitingSevere vomiting
Severe diarrhoea withSevere diarrhoea with
blood and mucusblood and mucus
High temperatureHigh temperature
DehydrationDehydration
Weight lossWeight loss
Lack of appetiteLack of appetite
Sudden death with no signsSudden death with no signs
23. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Appropriate disinfectantsAppropriate disinfectants
Good nursing careGood nursing care
No drugs available to kill virusNo drugs available to kill virus
Fluids – oral, I/VFluids – oral, I/V
Antibiotics for secondary infectionsAntibiotics for secondary infections
Vaccinate in face of outbreakVaccinate in face of outbreak
24. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
Most common in young catsMost common in young cats
Recurrent secondary infectionsRecurrent secondary infections
High temperatureHigh temperature
LethargyLethargy
TumoursTumours
AnaemiaAnaemia
Very poor outlookVery poor outlook
26. FeLV and FIV in the shelterFeLV and FIV in the shelter
Virus does not survive long in theVirus does not survive long in the
environmentenvironment
Usually needs direct contact (grooming,Usually needs direct contact (grooming,
fighting) to be transmittedfighting) to be transmitted
Housing singly and using good hygiene isHousing singly and using good hygiene is
sufficientsufficient
27. ContainingContaining
DiseaseDisease
Some infectious diseases areSome infectious diseases are
ZOONOTICZOONOTIC eg ringwormeg ringworm
Some infectious diseases can survive inSome infectious diseases can survive in
the environment for a long timethe environment for a long time
– Parvovirus survives up to 12 monthsParvovirus survives up to 12 months
– Ringworm spores up to 2 yearsRingworm spores up to 2 years
28. DiseaseDisease
transmissiontransmission
Direct (from cat to cat)Direct (from cat to cat)
Saliva e.g. FeLVSaliva e.g. FeLV
Sneezing e.g. cat ‘fluSneezing e.g. cat ‘flu
Fighting e.g. FIVFighting e.g. FIV
Rubbing e.g. RingwormRubbing e.g. Ringworm
Indirect (from people orIndirect (from people or
objects)objects)
Pens e.g. RingwormPens e.g. Ringworm
Litter trays e.g. CoronavirusLitter trays e.g. Coronavirus
Food bowls e.g. FeLVFood bowls e.g. FeLV
People’s hands,People’s hands,
shoes etc e.g.shoes etc e.g.
ParvovirusParvovirus
29. Containing DiseaseContaining Disease
Keep infected cat isolatedKeep infected cat isolated
from all other catsfrom all other cats
Wear and use PersonalWear and use Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)Protective Equipment (PPE)
Use suitable disinfectant thatUse suitable disinfectant that
is effective against theis effective against the
diseasedisease
Clean and handle infectedClean and handle infected
cat lastcat last
30. Containing diseaseContaining disease
Have separate cleaning utensils forHave separate cleaning utensils for
isolated catisolated cat
Use disposable litter trays and foodUse disposable litter trays and food
bowls or return trays and bowls to samebowls or return trays and bowls to same
catcat
31. ContainingContaining
DiseaseDisease
Use disposable bedding or soak inUse disposable bedding or soak in
disinfectant before washing on hot cycledisinfectant before washing on hot cycle
Wash contaminated bedding last andWash contaminated bedding last and
separate from other beddingseparate from other bedding
Use footbaths containing disinfectantUse footbaths containing disinfectant
32. Containing diseaseContaining disease
Deep clean area forDeep clean area for
5 continuous days5 continuous days
after housingafter housing
infected catinfected cat
Steam clean first ifSteam clean first if
possiblepossible
Stop the movementStop the movement
of cats in or outof cats in or out
33. Disease preventionDisease prevention
Avoid over-crowdingAvoid over-crowding
Keep cats singly or only with cats fromKeep cats singly or only with cats from
the same sourcethe same source
Use full height sneeze barriersUse full height sneeze barriers
Quarantine new arrivals and isolate sickQuarantine new arrivals and isolate sick
catscats
34. Disease preventionDisease prevention
Reduce stress as much as possibleReduce stress as much as possible
Health check by a vetHealth check by a vet
Screen for disease where possibleScreen for disease where possible
Good preventative medicineGood preventative medicine
35. VaccinationVaccination
CoreCore - essential in all- essential in all
rescue facilities as arescue facilities as a
minimumminimum
FHVFHV
FCVFCV
FPVFPV
Rabies in endemicRabies in endemic
areaarea