Diseases of pets >>>> Coronavirus infection in animals - signs and prevention

Coronavirus infection in animals - signs and prevention.

Coronavirus infection in the animal world has been known for a long time. The term Coronavirus infection summarizes several species (Coronavirus and Torovirus) and has a wide range of varieties of Coronaviruses, differing in host - carrier, antigenic properties and specificity of manifestation (clinical signs). Most Coronaviruses have a tropism (have the ability to replicate in these cells, to multiply in these cells) to the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and intestinal tract. Coronaviruses have several groups that differ in antigenic variability properties and in carriage. The hosts - carriers of viruses of one group can be: a person, a pig, a dog, a cat, a mouse, a rabbit, poultry (chicken or turkey) or cows (camels), but the Coronaviruses within the group are different in humans, pigs, dogs or cats and so on. Coronaviruses of one group differ sharply in specificity to the host-carrier and in antigenic properties, as well as in clinical symptoms of manifestation in relation to Coronaviruses of the other group.

Representatives of different groups of Coronaviruses can cause various infections in animals (respiratory or pulmonary, intestinal and even neuroinfection). There are abortive coronavirus infections (they do not lead to the multiplication of the virus) and permissive virulent coronavirus infections (viral infections that can destroy the cells into which the virus invades during its replication - multiplication). Unfortunately, trypsin in the intestine (a digestive enzyme) is capable of converting an abortive coronavirus infection into a permissive virulent coronavirus infection.

Studies have shown that in the animal world, coronavirus infection can affect not only wild animals, but also various representatives of domesticated animals - cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, poultry, pigs, cows, calves, camels and many other animals. In adult animals, carriage is most often observed, but they get sick with various varieties of Coronavirus (specific for this type of animal), as a rule, young animals.

In adult animals Coronavirus infection occurs as an asymptomatic carriage or with minor symptoms (signs of coronavirus infection in an adult animal - chronic diarrhea, poor appetite, apathy, weight loss), outwardly invisible (asymptomatic). For young animals, Coronavirus enteritis can become life-threatening due to the rapidly developing inflammation of the superficial epithelium of the small intestine, the formation of necrotic foci. Adult animals are carriers and can be dangerous to young. The disease poses a fatal risk to young animals up to five months of age. With a severe course of the disease, pups up to eight months of age can die within two days. With a mild course of the disease, the animal can recover within ten days with the formation of antibodies in the blood to this type of Coronavirus. But the immunity is formed for a short time, and the animal can get sick again after some time.

Coronavirus-infected animal or animal carrying the Coronavirus infection secretes feces, which contribute to the entry of the Coronavirus into the external environment. Further, the spread of the Coronavirus among animals is facilitated by the oral and oral-nasal route of transmission. In feces at room temperature, the Coronavirus persists for up to two days. A coronavirus from one animal species (including a Coronavirus that infects humans) can infect another animal, for example, a dog can be infected with a type of Coronavirus common in pigs, or a Canine coronavirus can infect a cat or pig due to antigenic relationship of a disease, for example Coronavirus type FIPV (Feline infectious peritonitis virus - affects the oropharynx and intestines) has an antigenic relationship with the Canine Coronavirus and causes Coronavirus peritonitis (a fatal disease) in cats.

Signs of Coronavirus infection in animals (in pups) are manifested at the initial stage by depression, loss of appetite, and starvation. Further diarrhea, vomiting develops. The body temperature of the animal practically does not rise. Young animals die due to the rapidly advancing dehydration. Almost all baby animals are seriously ill with Coronavirus infection.

It is possible to identify the disease with the Coronavirus or the carriage of the Coronavirus in an animal by testing the blood for antibodies and analyzing the animal's feces for the presence of a representative of the Coronavirus infection. Since different types of Coronavirus have different virulence, the complexity of the course of the disease may vary depending on the type of Coronavirus.

How are Coronavirus-infected animals treated? In the early stages of detecting Coronavirus infection in animals, their treatment is based on etiotropic therapy (serum, immunoglobulins), preparations for rehydration (saline solutions through a dropper), therapeutic feeding (in small portions with an increase in the frequency of feeding with easily digestible food), when a bacterial infection has joined antibiotic therapy.

Prevention of Coronavirus infection in animals is carried out in two ways: passive immunization (polyvalent serum or polyvalent immunoglobulin) and vaccination (vaccines associated with several viral diseases). Vaccinated (immunized) mainly young animals at the age of 16 weeks.