NAVLE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026
◉ A 5 year old domestic short-haired spayed female cat is presented
with the complaints of anorexia, chronic vomiting, and weight loss.
Physical examination reveals icterus, dehydration, and fever.
Thickened small intestinal loops are appreciated with abdominal
palpation, and serum biochemistry shows increased bilirubin and
liver enzymes.
The cat is diagnosed with extrahepatic biliary obstruction with
accompanying cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Which
one of the following normal anatomic features may predispose cats
to this triad of diseases?
A - Narrowing of the duodenum distal to the entry of the common
bile and pancreatic ducts
B - Common opening of the pancreatic and common bile ducts into
duodenum
C - Enlarged duodenal papilla in comparison to other species
,D - Decreased proportion of alpha-smooth muscle actin in muscle
fibers of the wall of the gall bladder in cats
E - Decreased diameter and increa
Answer: B
In cats, there is a common opening of the pancreatic and common
bile ducts into the duodenum. It is thought that this may predispose
them to ascending cholangitis and pancreatitis after vomiting
associated with inflammatory bowel disease, resulting in
extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
Other possible etiologies of EHBO include neoplasia, biliary
stricture, duodenal obstruction, diaphragmatic hernia, and parasitic
infection.
In all cases, there is a lack of bile entry into the intestinal tract,
leading to decreased absorption of fat and fat soluble vitamins such
as vitamin K, potentially resulting in coagulopathies.
Except in transient cases that are related to acute pancreatitis,
surgical intervention to relieve the obstruction is required as well as
appropriate supportive care, antimicrobial treatment, and vitamin K
administration.
,◉ Most of a litter of European wild boar at a zoological park have
died. The surviving piglets are in lateral recumbency with a frothy
nasal discharge. Necropsy of the piglets reveals pulmonary edema
and copious fluid in the trachea and bronchi along with grayish-
white necrotic foci on the myocardium. Which one of the following
diseases is the most likely diagnosis?
A - Edema disease
B - Encephalomyocarditis
C - Glasser's Disease
D - Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome
E - Pseudorabies
Answer: B
Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is caused by a cardiovirus in the
family picornaviridae. Confusingly, the virus is named for its effects
on mice.
Think of rodents and exotic zoo mammals with EMCV. Pig-to-pig
contact, contamination of swine feed and water by rodents or
ingestion of dead rodents may cause disease. See pulmonary edema
and copious transudate in the respiratory tract, causing cardiac
failure. Zoo outbreaks of EMCV have included lions, African
elephants, rhinos, hippos, sloths, llamas, antelope and nonhuman
primates. An outbreak of lion deaths at a Florida zoo in the USA
occurred after feeding them the carcass of an African elephant that
had died of EMCV.
, Edema disease is a neurologic disease caused by a hemolytic
Escherichia coli producing Shiga toxin e2 and F18 pili resulting in
high mortality in recently-weaned pigs.
Glasser's Disease, caused by Hemophilus parasuis is usually an acute
disease of 6 to 8 week-old pigs which causes fibrinous arthritis,
polyserositis, and meningitis.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), is an
arterivirus causing reproductive failure and post-weaning
respiratory disease.
◉ What is the main mode of transmission for feline leukemia virus?
A - Aerosol transmission
B - Shedding of virus via feces
C - Fomite transmission
D - Shedding of virus via saliva
Answer: D
The correct answer is shedding of virus via saliva. The main mode of
transmission is via saliva. It requires prolonged, close contact. Cats
may shed the virus for months to years. Transmission may also
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026
◉ A 5 year old domestic short-haired spayed female cat is presented
with the complaints of anorexia, chronic vomiting, and weight loss.
Physical examination reveals icterus, dehydration, and fever.
Thickened small intestinal loops are appreciated with abdominal
palpation, and serum biochemistry shows increased bilirubin and
liver enzymes.
The cat is diagnosed with extrahepatic biliary obstruction with
accompanying cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Which
one of the following normal anatomic features may predispose cats
to this triad of diseases?
A - Narrowing of the duodenum distal to the entry of the common
bile and pancreatic ducts
B - Common opening of the pancreatic and common bile ducts into
duodenum
C - Enlarged duodenal papilla in comparison to other species
,D - Decreased proportion of alpha-smooth muscle actin in muscle
fibers of the wall of the gall bladder in cats
E - Decreased diameter and increa
Answer: B
In cats, there is a common opening of the pancreatic and common
bile ducts into the duodenum. It is thought that this may predispose
them to ascending cholangitis and pancreatitis after vomiting
associated with inflammatory bowel disease, resulting in
extrahepatic biliary obstruction.
Other possible etiologies of EHBO include neoplasia, biliary
stricture, duodenal obstruction, diaphragmatic hernia, and parasitic
infection.
In all cases, there is a lack of bile entry into the intestinal tract,
leading to decreased absorption of fat and fat soluble vitamins such
as vitamin K, potentially resulting in coagulopathies.
Except in transient cases that are related to acute pancreatitis,
surgical intervention to relieve the obstruction is required as well as
appropriate supportive care, antimicrobial treatment, and vitamin K
administration.
,◉ Most of a litter of European wild boar at a zoological park have
died. The surviving piglets are in lateral recumbency with a frothy
nasal discharge. Necropsy of the piglets reveals pulmonary edema
and copious fluid in the trachea and bronchi along with grayish-
white necrotic foci on the myocardium. Which one of the following
diseases is the most likely diagnosis?
A - Edema disease
B - Encephalomyocarditis
C - Glasser's Disease
D - Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome
E - Pseudorabies
Answer: B
Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is caused by a cardiovirus in the
family picornaviridae. Confusingly, the virus is named for its effects
on mice.
Think of rodents and exotic zoo mammals with EMCV. Pig-to-pig
contact, contamination of swine feed and water by rodents or
ingestion of dead rodents may cause disease. See pulmonary edema
and copious transudate in the respiratory tract, causing cardiac
failure. Zoo outbreaks of EMCV have included lions, African
elephants, rhinos, hippos, sloths, llamas, antelope and nonhuman
primates. An outbreak of lion deaths at a Florida zoo in the USA
occurred after feeding them the carcass of an African elephant that
had died of EMCV.
, Edema disease is a neurologic disease caused by a hemolytic
Escherichia coli producing Shiga toxin e2 and F18 pili resulting in
high mortality in recently-weaned pigs.
Glasser's Disease, caused by Hemophilus parasuis is usually an acute
disease of 6 to 8 week-old pigs which causes fibrinous arthritis,
polyserositis, and meningitis.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), is an
arterivirus causing reproductive failure and post-weaning
respiratory disease.
◉ What is the main mode of transmission for feline leukemia virus?
A - Aerosol transmission
B - Shedding of virus via feces
C - Fomite transmission
D - Shedding of virus via saliva
Answer: D
The correct answer is shedding of virus via saliva. The main mode of
transmission is via saliva. It requires prolonged, close contact. Cats
may shed the virus for months to years. Transmission may also
