Infectious rhinotracheitis of cats

In this article is considered one of the most common infectious diseases of the viral etiology among members of the cat family - infectious rhinotracheitis. It is given a definition of infectious rhinotracheitis as an acute and chronic going herpesvirus infection which transmitted by airborne droplets and manifests itself in the form of catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, of the fever or of the eye damage. It is mentioned that cats of any breed and any age are predisposed to this disease. The basic properties of the pathogen are stated. The attention is focused on the ability of the virus to multiply and to persist in the ganglia of the trigeminal nerve which leads to lifelong carriage with constant threat of a relapse of the disease. The main clinical manifestations and the most characteristic symptoms with this disease are mentioned: hypersalivatoin , cough, shortness of breath, sneezing, hyperthermia, anorexia, depression, serous or serous-purulent discharge from the eyes and the nose, conjunctival hyperemia. The main links of pathogenesis in the development of infectious rhinotracheitis are described in the article. There are given the modern basic methods of diagnosis of this disease: isolation of the pathogen. It is mentioned the absence of the direct diagnostic methods for the chronic and for the latent course of infectious process. It is focused on the possible methods of treatment of herpesvirus infection which are based on using antiviral drugs, immunomodulators and antibiotic therapy with restoring the water-salt balance and acid-base status. It is noted the necessity of further research to find the most effective drugs for pathogenetic therapy of cats’ infectious rhinotracheitis. There are given the possible preventive regimen of this disease. It is made a conclusion that it is important to detect the symptoms and to appeal to a specialist in a timely manner for the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention the development of complications with the attachment of a secondary infection. Key words: infectious rhinotracheitis, herpesvirus infection, respiratory tract, antiviral drugs, immunomodulators, vaccination.