Fact sheets and ABCD Tools

Fact sheets are two-page abstracts highlighting the main data contained in the ABCD guidelines.They are intended for use by veterinary practitioners for quick and easy reference during vaccination consultations or telephone queries. Each fact sheet (one per pathogen) has two pages and is illustrated to help the veterinarian explain to the cat owner the main points regarding disease prevention and management.

Fact sheets general

Management of infectious diseases in shelters

Blood transfusion

Blood transfusion can be lifesaving, but is not entirely without risk.

What is FISS?

Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) are considered the most serious adverse reactions following vaccination. They are invasive sarcomas, mostly fibrosarcomas, and behave more aggressively than tumours not typically associated with injections.

Vaccination of immunocompromised cats

Fact sheets viral

What is feline panleukopenia?

The feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a parvovirus, that infects all felids as well as raccoons, mink and foxes.

What is feline herpesvirus upper respiratory infection?

It is caused by feline herpesvirus (FHV), which has a worldwide distribution, also in non-domestic felids.

What is feline calicivirus upper respiratory infection?

t is caused by feline caliciviruses (FCV), highly contagious pathogens of the upper respiratory tract, widespread among felids, with the highest prevalence in large groups of cats housed together.

What is feline infectious peritonitis?

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a feline coronavirus (FCoV). FCoV infection is ubiquitous and very common in multi-cat environments.

What is feline leukaemia?

It is caused by feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a retrovirus, which may induce depression of the immune system, anaemia and/or lymphoma.

What is feline immunodeficiency?

First isolated in 1986, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a retrovirus closely related to HIV. Most felids are susceptible to FIV, but humans are not.

What is rabies in cats?

Rabies virus, together with the European bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2, belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae. There is increasing evidence that lyssaviruses can circulate within bat populations without causing disease.

What are cowpox infections in cats?

The cowpox virus is a member of the family Poxviridae with a wide host spectrum including man (zoonosis).

Fact sheets bacterial

What is Chlamydia felis?

Chlamydia felis is a Gram-negative bacterium. The ocular mucosa is the main target tissue, and infection is mostly accompanied by conjunctivitis.

What is a Bartonella infection?

Bartonella spp.are small, vector-transmitted Gram-negative intracellular bacteria. Over 22 species have been described, three of which have the cat as primary reservoir: B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae and B. koehlerae.

What is a Bordetella bronchiseptica infection?

Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) is a gram-negative bacterium that colonises the respiratory tracts of mammals.

What is leptospirosis in cats?

Leptospira spp. are mobile bacteria that can infect many mammalian species, including humans. Leptospirosis is considered a zoonotic disease (Weil’s disease in humans).

What are mycobacterial infections in cats?

Mycobacterium spp. infections in cats can be divided in three main groups: tuberculosis complex group (TB complex), feline leprosy syndrome (FLS) and nontuberculous or atypical mycobacteria (NTM).

Fact sheets fungal

What is dermatophytosis in cats?

Dermatophytosis, a superficial skin disease, is the most common fungal infection in cats. Over 90% of cases are caused by Microsporum canis.

What is Aspergillosis in cats?

Aspergillosis is caused bysaprophytic Aspergillus spp. fungi that sporadically cause mycoses in birds and mammals.

What is cryptococcosis in cats?

Cryptococcosis is the most common systemic fungal disease in cats worldwide. It is caused by the C. neoformans-C. gattii species complex which can also infect humans, domestic and wild mammals and birds.

Fact sheets protozoan

What is giardiasis in cats?

Giardia is a protozoal parasite that infects the small intestine of cats and can cause diarrhoea. Giardia can infect a number of hosts including man.

What is toxoplasmosis in cats?

T. gondii is a parasite that can infect virtually all species of warm-blooded animals, including people (zoonosis). Felidae are the definitive hosts. Non-feline species are intermediate hosts.

What is leishmaniosis in cats?

Leishmania is a zoonotic protozoan parasite, transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies to many vertebrates including humans.

What is babesiosis in cats?

Babesiosis is a vector-borne disease caused by Babesia spp., a common protozoal blood parasite in mammals worldwide.

Fact sheet helminthic

What are lungworms in cats?

Feline lungworm infestations in cats are often underdiagnosed. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Strongylida, Angiostrongylidae) is the most well-known feline lungworm worldwide and is regarded as the most prevalent in domestic cats.