NAVLE Feline Infectious 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A cat tests positive on FIV ELISA. The cat is 8 weeks old and was born to a seropositive queen. How should this result be interpreted?
- Confirmed FIV infection requiring immediate antiviral therapy
- Likely maternal antibody transfer; retest after 6 months of age (Correct answer)
- Inconclusive; euthanasia is recommended
- False positive; FIV cannot infect kittens
Correct answer: Likely maternal antibody transfer; retest after 6 months of age
FIV ELISA detects antibodies, and kittens can carry maternally derived antibodies until 6 months of age, yielding false-positive results.
Question 2: Ringworm in cats is most commonly caused by which dermatophyte species?
- Epidermophyton floccosum
- Microsporum canis (Correct answer)
- Trichophyton verrucosum
- Microsporum gypseum
Correct answer: Microsporum canis
Microsporum canis accounts for approximately 90% of feline dermatophytosis cases and is also the predominant zoonotic species from cats.
Question 3: Which form of feline upper respiratory infection is most likely to cause chronic rhinosinusitis as a sequela following acute infection?
- Feline calicivirus infection
- Feline herpesvirus-1 infection (Correct answer)
- Bordetella bronchiseptica infection
- Chlamydia felis infection
Correct answer: Feline herpesvirus-1 infection
FHV-1 establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglion and can cause turbinate destruction leading to chronic rhinosinusitis after reactivation episodes.
Question 4: A cat presents with bilateral anterior uveitis. FIP testing is negative. Which other infectious agent should be high on the differential list?
- Feline panleukopenia virus
- Toxoplasma gondii (Correct answer)
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline parvovirus
Correct answer: Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma gondii is a leading cause of feline uveitis and should be tested via serology when FIP is ruled out.
Question 5: A cat is presented with a nasal mass and skin nodules; cytology reveals large encapsulated yeast with narrow-based budding. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Sporotrichosis
- Histoplasmosis
- Cryptococcosis (Correct answer)
- Blastomycosis
Correct answer: Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii appears as large encapsulated yeasts with narrow-based budding on cytology and commonly causes nasal and skin lesions in cats.
Question 6: Feline calicivirus virulent systemic strain (VS-FCV) outbreaks are characterized by which distinctive clinical sign NOT typical of classic FCV?
- Oral ulceration
- Subcutaneous edema and facial swelling (Correct answer)
- Sneezing
- Conjunctivitis
Correct answer: Subcutaneous edema and facial swelling
VS-FCV causes severe systemic disease including facial and limb edema, skin ulceration, and high mortality, distinguishing it from classical FCV.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the mechanism by which FeLV causes non-regenerative anemia in some infected cats?
- Immune-mediated hemolysis of infected red cells
- Direct viral infection of erythroid precursors in bone marrow causing myelosuppression (Correct answer)
- Splenic sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes
- Hemoglobin oxidation by viral proteins
Correct answer: Direct viral infection of erythroid precursors in bone marrow causing myelosuppression
FeLV directly infects erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow, impairing red blood cell production and causing non-regenerative anemia.
NAVLE Feline Infectious 4
A cat tests positive on FIV ELISA.
The cat is 8 weeks old and was born to a seropositive queen.
How should this result be interpreted?