A REVIEW OF FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS (FELINE HERPESVIRUS-I INFECTION)

Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is a common and widely occurring disease of cats caused by a herpesvirus designated feline herpesvirus I. In this review (111 references) the virus and the disease are both considered. The virus is morphologically and physico-chemically typical of the herpesviruses, it has a limited host-cell range and appears to be of single antigenic type, unrelated to other herpesviruses. The disease, which affects only members of the cat family, is primarily respiratory but may generalise particularly in the neonate. Osseous pathology including bone necrosis and resorption has been shown to be a particular feature in the pathogenesis of FVR. Genital tract lesions occur experimentally but are not detected in natural infections. A carrier state with periods of latency exists in a majority of cats from FVR infection. Vaccines providing for reasonable protection against FVR have recently been developed. © 1979.