NAVLE Feline Infectious 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cat with chronic diarrhea is found to shed feline coronavirus on fecal PCR. The cat is otherwise healthy. What is the most appropriate management?
- Immediately begin GS-441524 treatment
- Monitor clinically; most cats clear enteric FCoV shedding without developing FIP (Correct answer)
- Isolate permanently from all other cats
- Administer prednisolone to prevent FIP development
Correct answer: Monitor clinically; most cats clear enteric FCoV shedding without developing FIP
Most cats shed enteric FCoV transiently without progressing to FIP; monitoring clinical status is appropriate rather than immediate treatment.
Question 2: Which finding on effusion fluid analysis is most consistent with FIP rather than cardiac or neoplastic effusion?
- Exudate with low protein and low cell count
- Straw-colored viscous exudate with protein >35 g/L and low cell count (Correct answer)
- Transudate with protein <25 g/L
- Hemorrhagic effusion with numerous erythrocytes
Correct answer: Straw-colored viscous exudate with protein >35 g/L and low cell count
FIP effusion is typically a viscous, straw-colored exudate with high protein (>35 g/L) but surprisingly low cell counts, yielding a high Rivalta test result.
Question 3: Chlamydia felis infection in cats primarily affects which organ system?
- Gastrointestinal tract causing vomiting and diarrhea
- Conjunctiva causing persistent unilateral then bilateral conjunctivitis (Correct answer)
- Respiratory tract causing severe pneumonia
- Urinary tract causing cystitis
Correct answer: Conjunctiva causing persistent unilateral then bilateral conjunctivitis
Chlamydia felis is an obligate intracellular pathogen that primarily causes chronic conjunctivitis, often beginning unilaterally before becoming bilateral.
Question 4: Which vaccine-preventable feline disease is caused by a parvovirus and requires only biannual boosters in adult cats after the initial series?
- Feline herpesvirus-1
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline panleukopenia (Correct answer)
- Feline leukemia virus
Correct answer: Feline panleukopenia
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) vaccines provide long-lasting immunity; AAFP guidelines recommend triennial or less frequent boosters in low-risk adult cats after initial series.
Question 5: A FIV-positive cat living indoors is otherwise healthy. Which of the following management strategies is most appropriate?
- Euthanasia is recommended to prevent disease progression
- Regular veterinary visits, indoor-only lifestyle, neutering, and monitoring for opportunistic infections (Correct answer)
- Lifelong antiviral therapy starting immediately
- Immediate corticosteroid therapy to prevent lymphoma
Correct answer: Regular veterinary visits, indoor-only lifestyle, neutering, and monitoring for opportunistic infections
FIV-positive cats can live normal lifespans with appropriate management including indoor confinement, routine monitoring, and prompt treatment of secondary infections.
Question 6: A shelter cat is diagnosed with feline panleukopenia. What is the minimum isolation period recommended after clinical recovery to prevent spread to susceptible cats?
- 24 hours
- 72 hours
- At least 4 weeks (Correct answer)
- 6 months
Correct answer: At least 4 weeks
Cats recovering from FPV can shed virus in feces for up to 6 weeks; a minimum isolation period of 4 weeks post-recovery is recommended in shelter settings.
Question 7: Which diagnostic test is most appropriate for confirming active Toxoplasma gondii infection (versus past exposure) in a cat with suspected toxoplasmosis?
- Single high IgG titer
- Fecal flotation for oocysts alone
- Rising IgM titer or a fourfold rise in IgG titer on paired samples (Correct answer)
- Skin test for delayed hypersensitivity
Correct answer: Rising IgM titer or a fourfold rise in IgG titer on paired samples
Rising IgM titers or a fourfold increase in IgG on paired samples 2-4 weeks apart indicate active or recent Toxoplasma infection rather than past exposure.
NAVLE Feline Infectious 5
A cat with chronic diarrhea is found to shed feline coronavirus on fecal PCR.
The cat is otherwise healthy.
What is the most appropriate management?