Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are common problems affecting cats in shelters, boarding facilities, breeding catteries, and pet homes. The most common causes of URTI include feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV), Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydophila felis, Mycoplasma spp, and some bacteria. However, vaccines are only available for FHV, FCV, B. bronchiseptica, and C. felis. No single product is available to provide protection against all 4 agents in one vaccine.
Most feline vaccines are formulated for parenteral use, but there are 2 products on the market in the United States designed for intranasal administration. Intranasal administration of vaccines stimulates a nonspecific immune response in addition to the specific immune response against the agent in the vaccine. These investigators examined the effect of intranasal vaccination against FHV and FCV on disease caused by B. bronchiseptica. Two groups of 10 cats each were either inoculated intranasally with the vaccine or left unvaccinated. They were then exposed to B. bronchiseptica seven days later. Vaccinated cats were found to be less likely to be clinically ill than unvaccinated cats. Thus, intranasal vaccination with FHV and FCV decreased disease caused by a different pathogen due to its stimulation of nonspecific immunity. [MK]
See also: Egberink H, Addie D, Belak S, et al. Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in cats ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg. 2009; 11: 610-4.
Free, full text article updated 2012
Related blog articles:
Treatment of feline upper respiratory tract disease (August 2012)
Upper respiratory tract disease in shelters (November 2009)
Understanding chronic respiratory disease in cats (August 2009)
More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
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