Toravirus in cats

Re: Toravirus in cats

Julian Earl — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:00:17 GMT

Just backing up Martin and Bob earlier. Torovirus was first named as a possible cause maybe twenty or thirty years ago for this NMD disease, Nictitating membrane and diarrhoea disease but I also thought it was now excluded. In the seventies and eighties [I was nowt but a lad then you realise?] the vets used to blame this on tapeworm causing loss of the retrobulbar fat pad and the globe then retracts in to the orbit. Simple really! They always tend to spontaneously improve after worming and also after svereal weeks, even months, presumably due the efficacy of the wormer or then when they develop immunity to the Torovirus. Well, that's what was explained to owners so it must be true.

Treatment-wise, light diets never seemed to make much difference, but Peridale granules seemed to reduce the diarrhoea and cats eat them okay with the food.

HTH

Re: Toravirus in cats

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:21:08 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] If you're worried about that then consider Protexin which is a better product anyway and is based on another clay[/quote]

Protexin Pro-kolin contains kaolin, unless they do another one with something else in. I'm not aware of any issues with using it in cats (and I do from time to time with no apparent ill-effect)

[/quote]Sorry for delay in reply I've been away. Sorry again I meant Promax which contains montmorillonite which is another clay.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Bob Russell — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 10:51:13 GMT

I would also pass on the antibiotics for Campylobacter if the cat is improving. They are rarely given to humans and it is usually self-limiting.

My ex went with her solicitor to Prague for a weekend break and came back with Campylobacter. Rather unpleasant symptoms, I laughed for a week (they didn't!). They were not allowed antibiotics either!

Re: Toravirus in cats

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 22:33:10 GMT

I use erythromycin suspension for cats and small dogs/ pups with Campylobacter, if i need to give antibiotics at all. often by the time the results come in they are getting better anyway.

The dose is 40mg/kg/day divided into several doses - at least three - and that minimises any side effects like vomiting.

There is some controversy about treating Campy with antibiotics these days - many people believe the bug is cultured because of the diarrhoea, rather than being the primary cause. but personally if i culture it and the animal is unwell, i will treat. If the animal is getting/ already better - I won't.

Don't give FQs to diarrhoea cases - the risk of causing resistance in other potential enterobacteria is I believe significant. they should only be used as a last resort based on culture and sensitivity ideally, or cytological identification of rods in suitable cases

Also, these days i don't starve animals presenting just with diarrhoea. It doesn't help and it is amazing how quickly they lose condition in chronic or relapsing cases if they keep being starved.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Rob Loxley — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 18:15:08 GMT

[quote user="Adrienne McPartland"]Don't have access to erythromycin and causes vomiting[/quote]

I have used human oral erythro suspension, where I've felt the need to treat

Re: Toravirus in cats

John Flynn — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 14:21:09 GMT

[quote user="Adrienne McPartland"]solid faeces passed twice[/quote]

I'd be happy with that and pass on the abs.

I'd use clindamycin if i thought abs were going to do any good and avoid FQ's personally.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Adrienne McPartland — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 13:47:17 GMT

Final update

Discharged the cat yesterday with solid faeces passed twice. Faecal culture returned today with isolation of Campylobacter jejuni, From my reading it seems that this is deemed pathogenic, sensitive to erythromycin, chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones. Don't have access to erythromycin and causes vomiting, so I'm left with fluoroquinolones, was intending to use marbofloxacin, but wondering what sort of a course others would deem appropriate, 7-10 days?

Re: Toravirus in cats

Rob Davis — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 09:00:40 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"] If you're worried about that then consider Protexin which is a better product anyway and is based on another clay[/quote]

Protexin Pro-kolin contains kaolin, unless they do another one with something else in. I'm not aware of any issues with using it in cats (and I do from time to time with no apparent ill-effect)

Re: Toravirus in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 16:24:18 GMT

yep, makes more sense to inject B12 because it cannot be absorbed properly.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 13:51:44 GMT

[quote user="Adrienne McPartland"]Any suggestions for oral vit b12/folate ? Also added in pro-kolin yesterday which seems to be helping. In the back of my mind though there is something saying you shouldn't use kaolin in cats, but couldn't find it written anywhere. Did I imagine that?[/quote] I thought the point with B12 supplementation was that they are deficient because they can't absorb it so injections are better (every 3-4 weeks). It is unlikely to be of huge benefit but at least it won't do any harm and it shows the client you're trying. Not heard the kaolin thing but most of these syringe based absorbants aren't kaolin anyway. If you're worried about that then consider Protexin which is a better product anyway and is based on another clay and it will be a change of probiotics as well.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 13:37:04 GMT

[quote user="Adrienne McPartland"]and bilateral third eyelid prolapse has not resolved.[/quote]

It will, uninfluenced by any treatment you may or may not give. It may take weeks.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Adrienne McPartland — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 13:33:23 GMT

Update on kitty...

Diarrhoea is resolving but intermittently, passed solid faeces last night but this morning was rather loose. Cat is bright, eating very well, not drinking a huge amount and bilateral third eyelid prolapse has not resolved. No preliminary results from the external lab yet - 3 days later Currently on fenbendazole, pro-kolin, vitamin b12 and RC sensitivity food.

Have discussed with the owner for potential to be a chronic condition and could take a while to get on top of, likely will send home today because we aren't doing anything else for the cat the owner can't do at home with the remainder of the course of fenbendazole. Any suggestions for oral vit b12/folate ? Also added in pro-kolin yesterday which seems to be helping. In the back of my mind though there is something saying you shouldn't use kaolin in cats, but couldn't find it written anywhere. Did I imagine that?

Re: Toravirus in cats

Bob Russell — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:37:08 GMT

I was under the impression that Torovirus had been excluded as a causal pathogen. We find a lot of our 'diarrhoea' dogs and cats come back positive for Giardia using the inhouse snap test.

If unresponsive to anything else I supply Forgastrin which seems to help. Turns the food and poo jet black but cats don't seem to worry about the colour of their food. Sometimes worth admitting for a few days to make sure the cat is not eating out on something unsuitable (or someone in family is slipping titbits!).

Re: Toravirus in cats

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 09:30:56 GMT

I've seen it many, many times over the years, whether its coronovirus or torovirus or whatever other virus you want to name if you've eliminated everything you can practically treat then you're in for the long haul with conservative treatment. If you were to do intestinal biopsy you may find some damage to the villi which will take a while to recover and if you do a differential culture for commensals rather than just pathogens you may well find certain lines are suppressed. So bland diet/exclusion diet, something to cork it up (Peridale capsules perhaps) and some probiotics - recommended to do two different brands and live yogurt, 3 weeks of each. As said prepare the client for the long haul, some have taken months to get better with the clients getting desperate in the end. If you want to remain pro-active suggest testing for B12/Folate/TLI and mutter dark things about biopsies but keep involved because some clients will think its your incompetence rather than just a chronic condition .

PS I'm not aware that antiviral treatment like L-lysine is effective in controlling symptoms

Re: Toravirus in cats

Robin Grimmer — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 23:09:12 GMT

normally self-limiting but can take 2-3 weeks to resolve.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:20:41 GMT

Just re-read Adrienne's original postinf - and realised FIV/FeLV have already been done.

Wynne

Re: Toravirus in cats

Dalya Livy — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:17:15 GMT

I have seen Haws syndrome quite often, on the odd occasion diagnosed some sort of intestinal disease (usually infectious or parasitic) but in most cases came up with nothing on tests and nictitans prolapse resolved on its own within 2-3 months. I have never seen it in conjunction with acute severe D+ however, they've all been grumbling chronic D+ or a short-lived episode (2-3 days) of D+ in an otherwise well cat. I'm not aware of a UK lab testing for toravirus, but I'd certainly be interested if someone's done this successfully!

FIP should probably still be on your list, and possibly Cryptosporidium although I've only diagnosed the latter twice in the the UK so not sure of exact prevalence here. Tritrichomonas should be a large intestine problem, and your cat's symptoms are suggestive of small intestine pathology. Bacterial cultures and Giardia PCR may give you something to go on. If infections are ruled out, pancreatitis and infiltrative bowel disease (inflammatory, eosinophilic, neoplastic) may still need to be considered here. Haws syndrome is a syndrome, i.e. causes are any of the above and more, and toravirus seems to be more of a diagnosis of exclusion rather than something to rely on.

How is the cat? Eating? Pyrexic still? Any abdo pain?

While you're waiting on diagnostics, hydration and nutrition are important which I imagine you are on top of! B12 supplementation may be helpful.

Interesting case, I'd be curious to see if you do get an answer.

Re: Toravirus in cats

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 22:07:16 GMT

Worth testing for FeLV (especially if unvaccinated ) and FIV. My understanding is that toro virus is a virus of low infectivity, so worth checking it isn't immuno-suppressed. If it's clear of the "nasties " a shot of good old-fashioned B12 may help.

Wynne

Re: Toravirus in cats

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 20:51:01 GMT

wow - suddenly I'm feeling very inadeqate...you've done such a lot already in a cat with only 5 days of diarrhoea!!!

I see this quite a lot- 3rd eyelid 'prolapse' and diarrhoea in an otherwise well (and usually young) cat. I'm afraid I just mumble something about 'a virus' to the owner and tell them it should clear up within a few days without any treatment ....... I've never had any indication that it didn't.... .....