Common Infectious Diseases in Shelters

Jennifer Morris, DVM

Director of Shelter Medicine

Atlanta Humane Society

1

Epidemiological Triangle

Pathogen Factors

• Virulence

• Strain

• Dose

• Method of spread

• Route of inoculation

• Carrier states

Common Pathogens

• Canine

– CIRD• Bordetella

• Mycoplasma

• Distemper

• Adenovirus

• Parainfluenza

• Canine Flu

• Strep. zooepidemicus

– Parvovirus

– Dermatophytosis

– Sarcoptic mange

• Feline

– Upper Respiratory Infection• Feline Herpesvirus

• Calicivirus

• Bordetella

• Chlamydophila

• Mycoplasma

– Panleukopenia

– Dermatophytosis

Vaccinations Available

• Canine

– CIRD• Bordetella

• Mycoplasma

• Distemper

• Adenovirus

• Parainfluenza

• Canine Flu

• Strep. zooepidemicus

– Parvovirus

– Dermatophytosis

– Sarcoptic mange

• Feline

– Upper Respiratory Infection• Feline Herpesvirus

• Calicivirus

• Bordetella

• Chlamydophila

• Mycoplasma

– Panleukopenia

– Dermatophytosis

How are infectious diseases spread?

• Direct contact

– Sarcoptic mange

– Dermatophytosis

– FIV – deep bite wound

• Aerosolization/inhalation

– Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD)

• Ingestion

– Intestinal parasites

– Parvovirus

• Vectors

– Heartworm disease

#1 Factor in Disease Spread

Environmental Factors

• Frequency of exposure to illness – Infectious Dose

– Sanitation• What chemicals kill this microbe? Are we using them correctly?

• Controlling fomite transmission?

• Cleaning of multi-use items – bedding, toys, bowls

– Contact with others • Nose to nose when walking?

• Separation of ages?

• Quarantine for symptomatic animals?

• Housing density

Infectious Dose

Host Factors

• STRESS

• Co-infection

• Other disease processes

• Inadequate vaccination

• Genetics

• Age – immature immune system

• Insufficient maternal antibodies

• Nutritional status

Herd Immunity

What Factors Can We Control?

• Host

– Ensure herd immunity by timely vaccination

– Treat for co-infections/diseases

• Environment

– Reduce environmental contamination

– Reduce exposure to other animals• Isolate sick animals

• Plan animal traffic pattern and housing

– Reduce stress (cortisol release) in shelter• Behavioral enrichment

• Low stress handling

• Light:dark cycles

• Adequate housing

• Noise control

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Canine Distemper Virus Canine Parvovirus

Not Protected Protected

Do we need to vaccinate?

Source and Health Status had no effect!

Neutered & reclaimed dogs were more

likely to be protected against CDV.

n = 431

Lechner ES, Crawford PC, Levy JK, et al. Prevalence of protective antibody titers for canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus in dogs entering a Florida animal shelter. JAVMA 236 (12), 2010.

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Feline Panleukopenia Feline Herpesvirus-1 Feline Calicivirus

Not Protected Protected

Do we need to vaccinate?

Health Status had no effect!

Neutered cats were more likely to be protected against FPV.

n = 418

DiGangi BA, Levy JK, Griffin B, et al. Prevalence of protective antibody titers for feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus-1, and feline calicivirus in cats entering Florida animal shelters. JAVMA 241(10), 2012.

Vaccine Administration

Proper storage of vaccines (35-45oF)

Reconstitute vaccine product

– Do not interchange diluents

Administer within 30-60min of

reconstitution

– Protect from temperature extremes

Never mix multiple products

Never split doses for smaller animals

Does it matter when vaccination occurs?

Disease Time to protection Type of vaccine

Canine parvovirus 3-5 days Live virus

Canine distemper 4 hours to 3-5 daysLive virus;

Recombinant

Bordetella

bronchiseptica2 days* Live virus - Intranasal

*These vaccines are not designed to prevent infection, just to

minimize duration and severity of illness.

Disease Time to protection Type of vaccine

Feline panleukopenia 24 hours to 3-5 days Live virus

Feline herpesvirus-1 4 days* Live virus

Feline calicivirus 1 day*Live virus

Vaccinations in the Shelter

• ON INTAKE – FVRCP, DA2PP, Bordetella

• Repeated in 2 weeks

• Repeated every 2 weeks until 16-20 weeks of age

• Rabies at adoption if >3 months

• Pregnant

• Nursing

• Sick

Vaccinations in the Shelter

Other Vaccines?

• Canine Influenza

– Killed

– Does not prevent disease

– Requires 2 doses 2 weeks apart

– $$$

• FeLV

– Only if group housing

– Unlikely to spread via fomite

– $$$

Vaccine Locations

Response to Illness

• Know how to identify

– Common signs

– Cage side tests• Giardia, Parvo/panleuk

• Necropsy

– Laboratory tests• PCR, IFA, histopath

• Titer - are you protected?

• Quarantine – time from exposure to illness

– Negative titer or too young

• Isolate/treat – keep in mind shedding period

Sample Case

• Possible diseases?

• How to test for each?

• Routes of transmission?

“What do we do now Doc?!”

Sample Case

Sample Case

• Who is exposed?

• Who is susceptible?

• Who is likely immune?

• Who should be titered?

• Space considerations

– Room to quarantine?

– Room to isolate/treat?

• Staff/resources

– Staff trained in PPE and quarantine procedures?

– Staff trained to treat?

– $ available to treat?

Sample Case

Sample Case - PPE

Sample Case - Quarantine

• How long to quarantine? • How long for isolation/treatment?

Sample Case

Sample Case - Treatment

Sample Case - Outcome

• No additional breaks in quarantine room after 14 days (good PPE and cleaning)

• No breaks among other puppies in the shelter (no fomite transmission)

• Positive puppy recovered and isolated during shedding (knowledgeable staff and Drs.)

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD)

• Can be one or several viruses/bacteria involved

• Morbidity ranges from mild serous nasal discharge to pneumonia and death

• Spread via fomites, direct contact, and aerosols

• How far can a dog sneeze?

20 feet!

CIRD Pathogens

– CIRD• Bordetella

• Mycoplasma

• Distemper

• Adenovirus

• Parainfluenza

• Canine Flu

• Strep. zooepidemicus

• Diagnosis

– Typically by clinical signs

– PCR

– Culture/Sensitivity

– IFA

• Know your tests!

– What does a positive result mean?

– What does a negative result mean?

Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

• Typically viral with secondary bacterial infections

• Majority of cats come to the shelter having already contracted Herpesvirus or Calicivirus and are asymptomatic until…..

Transmission

• Fomites

• Direct contact

• Aerosolization?

• How far can a cat sneeze?

About 5 feet

#1 Factor Causing URI in Cats

CIRD/URI Treatment

• Isolation from healthy population until asymptomatic

• PPE

• Reduce stress

• Antibiotics?

Doxycycline first

Dermatophytosis

• Presentation

– Young animals, esp. cats

– Hairloss +/-

• Testing

– Woods lamp

– DTM

– PCR

Dermatophytosis

• Treatment

– Itra/Fluconazole

– Lyme dips

– Topicals?

– Shave?

• Prevention

– Isolation until cure w/PPE

– Decontamination

– Closely examine incoming animals for hair loss

– Woods lamp all incoming young animals

– Dip on intake?

Intestinal Parasites

• Assume every animal is infected

– Treat at intake and repeat with vaccines

• Pyrantel pamoate

– Roundworms

– Hookworms +/-

• Ponazuril (Marquis)

– Coccidia

• Fenbendazole (Panacur)

– Rounds, Hooks, Whips

Also on Intake…

• Head to tail exam

• Documentation

• Identification

• Flea/tick treatment & prevention

• Heartworm test (>6mo)

• Heartworm prevention

• FeLV/FIV test +/-

Questions?