Feline herpesvirus and chronic rhinitis: why the cat does not recover
2-year-old female cat with recurrent sneezing and nasal discharge since severe cat flu with conjunctivitis as a kitten. Flare-ups coincided with the arrival of another cat and with a house move.
What best explains this cat's course?
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A. Feline calicivirus becomes latent in the trigeminal ganglion and is the typical cause of stress-induced reactivation
Calicivirus produces persistent carriers with continuous oropharyngeal shedding, but not neural latency; trigeminal latency is characteristic of herpesvirus.
B. Feline herpesvirus type 1 becomes latent in the trigeminal ganglion and reactivates with stress; in addition, turbinate damage during the acute infection predisposes to chronic secondary bacterial rhinitis
Correct. Most infected cats remain latent carriers for life. Stress or glucocorticoids reactivate shedding and signs, and the destruction of turbinates and mucosa leaves a nose with impaired defences.
C. It is a Bordetella bronchiseptica reinfection every time a new cat arrives
Bordetella may be involved in feline respiratory disease complex, but it does not explain chronicity after viral damage or the consistent link with stress.
D. It is a seasonal allergic rhinitis triggered by pollen
Allergic rhinitis is poorly documented in cats and does not explain the history of severe cat flu or the link with stress.
lightbulb Key takeaway
A positive herpesvirus PCR in a chronic cat does not prove it is the current cause, because many healthy cats shed it. Reducing stress and avoiding unnecessary glucocorticoids is part of management; vaccination reduces severity but does not prevent infection or latency.
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Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.