1. VTT 200 General Sciences for Veterinary Technicians
Pima Medical Institute

2. Levels of Biology Atomic and sub-atomic Molecular (two or more atoms)
Chains or Acids (Amino, Fatty, DNA, etc)
Organelles (ribosomes, membrane, etc.)
Cellular (smallest unit of life)
Tissues (group of specialized cells w/ function)
Organ (more than one tissue type w/ function)
Organ System
Organism
Community
Population
Biosphere or Global

3. Characteristics of Life
Some Scientists believe 3 characteristics
Exist on Own
Reproduce on Own (or with gender partner)
Use Nutrients for Metabolism

4. Other scientists believe 5 characteristics
Made of cells: small self-contained units & building blocks of organisms
Obtain and use energy for metabolism
Respond to their environment by stimulus: light, odor, sound, heat, etc.
Grow and develop to process new structures or tissues (in more complex)
Ability to reproduce

5. VIRUSES Very small only .01-.03 micrometers
Will invade living cells and use them as a host to produce additional viruses
Not a living organism
Classified by what they invade
-Plant
-Animal
-Bacteriophage (bacteria)

6. Structure of Viruses Inner core of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)
Protective protein outer core called Capsid
Some viruses may have additional surrounding layer that is made of proteins, lipids or carbohydrates

7. Reproduction Lytic Cycle: Lysis means bursting
Almost exclusive to bacteria cells
Takes minutes: several hundred new phages produced in each cycle
Phage or virus attaches to bacteria cell
Bacteriophage then takes over cell function to make more bacteriophages

8. Lytic Cycle continued
Newly controlled nucleic material in bacteria is instructed to assemble new virus phages
Bacteria cell bursts and releases the bacteriophage to go and infect other cells
Original bacterial cell is destroyed

9. Lysogenic Infection & Reproduction
Usually reserved for Eukaryotic cells
Phage can stay dormant for a long time without causing the cell to lyse
Phage DNA combines with the cells DNA and is copied when cell divides

10. Lysogenic cycle continued
Each new cell has a copy of the viral DNA
In this cycle, the virus enters the cell as a whole
Slower replicating
These viruses leave the cell through membrane and may take part of the membrane to form an envelope

11. Types of Viruses by Appearance

12. Veterinary Viruses of Importance
Using vaccination information
Canine DA2PPv + Cv
Distemper
Adenovirus
Parainfluenza
ParvoVirus
+ Corona Virus

13. Distemper
a morbilivirus found in young dogs and unvaccinated older ones.
Attacks respiratory and ultimately nervous system.
Primary vax at 6 weeks.
Often fatal, but treatable if caught early enough

14. Adenovirus Type 1 & 2 Adenoviridae strain
Type 1 causes infection in liver. A hepatitis which may lead to kidney damage as well.
Type 2 is respiratory in nature and can lead to secondary kennel cough infection.
Vaccine is started at 6 weeks

15. Parainfluenza Paramyxoviridae strain
Viral respiratory disease can lead to secondary “kennel cough” in dogs.
Infection can be fatal to very young puppies and unvaccinated older dogs
Vaccine started at 6 weeks

16. Parvovirus Parvoviridae strain
Highly contagious and common in poor breeding areas and puppy mills
Severe diarrhea & vomiting with dehydration, low electrolytes & lethargy
Fatal 60-70% of time
In Las Vegas high incidence in Spring & Fall, but vax started at 6 weeks

17. Coronavirus Coronaviridae strain
Very contagious and signs similar to Parvo
Diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, emaciation, and lethargy
Often confused with Parvo
May occur concurrently with Parvo which is almost always fatal
Problematic in Southwest US
Many eastern US breeders do not vaccinate

18. Canine Influenza Relatively new infection first found in late 1990’s
Highly contagious without any natural immunity, so any dog exposed will become infected
Signs: low-grade fever, lethargy, inappetence,
Always a cough: sometimes dry; sometimes a persistent, productive cough lasting for a month
20% of cases will have serious signs with high fever, pneumonia, and a few cases of death.
All dogs are at risk, but boarding dogs, daycare exposure, group training settings, groomers, or dog parks more susceptible

19. FELINE VIRUSES Correlate with vax set RCPC + FeLV Rhinotraechitis
CaliciVirus
Panleukopenia
Chlamydia
Feline Leukemia

20. Rhinotracheitis A Herpesvirus
Widespread and highly contagious respiratory disease.
Can be fatal, always highly debilitating
Watery eyes and nasal discharge
Vax started at 9 weeks

21. Calicivirus Caliciviridae strain
Highly contagious, but less often fatal
Fever, salivation, stomatitis with ulcerations on the tongue & gums
Vax started at 9 weeks

22. Panleukopenia Parvoviridae strain—strain of K-9 Parvo
Commonly known as “Feline Distemper”
Highly contagious and usually fatal
Diarrhea,vomiting, emaciation,dehydration
Attacks catteries and shelters
Vax started at 9 weeks
Can be tested with Canine Parvo test

23. Chlamydia (is other C in Vax)
NOT VIRAL, caused by bacteria Chlamydia psittaci (which is close strain of human and avian form)
Bacterial respiratory infection and symptoms resemble viral rhinotracheaitis

24. Feline Leukemia Virus Oncornavirus strain
Form of malignancy—usually fatal
Tumors grow in bone marrow and other parts of body
Highly contagious, but some cats latent
Attacks WBCs making cat susceptible to various other diseases and infections.
MUST BE TESTED PRIOR TO VACCINATION which is usually started at 9-10 weeks

25. Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Viral disease known as FIP
Caused by a Coronavirus that is a strain of K-9 Coronavirus and related to current Asian Bird Flu virus; however, FIP is not zoonotic to humans
Many confusing information on this virus
We do know it is highly contagious between cats and or surfaces of contact
Testing for antigen is very inaccurate

26. FIP continued Two common strains
-Wet is more severe and almost always fatal with severe diarrhea, intestinal ulceration, emaciation, dehydration, weight loss, fever and depression
-Dry form is less severe and may show with less severe signs or animal may be latent until immune system suppressed
There is no cure & VAX is generally regarded as ineffective by most cat experts

27. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
An Oncornavirus abbreviated as FIV
Also known as “Feline Aids”
Always fatal and highly contagious
Commonly tested in combo with FeLV
Attacks and destroys WBCs making cat susceptible to many other infections
NO CURE AND NO VAX

28. Rabies (K-9, Feline & Zoonotic)
A Rhabdovirus
Contagious and Zoonotic via transfer of saliva usually through bite
May initially show respiratory and intestinal signs, but quickly moves to neurological system within 72 hours to 7 days
Is always fatal once it reaches neuro
Can be transmitted from wild animals, particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, prarie dogs
Vax is given at weeks; annual at 1 year; then vax is good for three years