Feline herpesvirus infection (epizootological monitoring, hematological parameters, treatment and prevention in the veterinary service "VetExpert" of the city Poltava)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2025.28.04.21Keywords:
herpesvirus, cats, epizootological monitoring, hematological parameters, treatment, vaccines, preventionAbstract
This study presents the results of research on hematological parameters, as well as the treatment and prevention of feline herpesvirus infection in the city of Poltava. During the period of 2019–2024, 375 cases of infectious rhinotracheitis were registered in cats in "VetExpert" veterinary service of the city of Poltava. The diagnosis of infectious rhinotracheitis was established comprehensively taking into account epizootological data, anamnesis data, clinical signs. Immunochromatographic rapid tests based on the detection of the pathogen antigen were performed to confirm the diagnosis. Animals that became ill were either not vaccinated against infectious rhinotracheitis or had not followed the recommended vaccination schedule. The highest incidence of feline herpesvirus infection was observed in kittens aged 2–3 months, accounting for 51.9 % of all sick animals. The epizootic process of the disease was characterized by seasonality. In 2023, the largest number of cases of herpesvirus infection (44.2 %) occurred in the autumn period, 23.1 % of sick animals were registered in the spring, 21.2 % of cases of the disease in the winter period, and the smallest number (11.5 %) in the summer. Hematological analysis revealed leukocytosis in sick animals, caused by an increase in the relative number of lymphocytes due to viral infection and the relative number of granulocytes due to inflammatory processes in the body. The treatment of cats using the immunomodulator "Roborante Calieru", antibacterial drug "Unidox Solutab", antiviral drug "Viraxy" and Ringer's solution was 20 % more effective in terms of the speed of recovery of animals and the absence of fatalities compared to the treatment scheme using "Fosprenil", "Synulox", "Gepavi-Kel", "Ringer's" solution. The positive effect of the selected therapy was confirmed by changes in the blood. Probable changes were recorded in erythrocytes, the number of which increased by 1.7 times (P<0.001), leukocytes, the number of which decreased by 1.7 times (P<0.001), percentage of lymphocytes with granulocytes, which decreased by 1.4 and 1.3 times (P<0.001) and hemoglobin concentration increased by 7.21 % (P<0.05). The high efficiency of the used vaccines Nobivak Tricat Trio and Felocell 4 for the prevention of herpesvirus infection in 237 cats in the veterinary service "VetExpert" have been confirmed.
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