7. Feline panleukopaenia.

Question 1

Occurrence?

Answer 1

Feline panleukopaenia (infectious gastro-enteritis)

Parvoviridae, Parvovirinae, Protoparvovirus, Feline panleukopaenia virus

• Cats & Felidae
• Widespread in the world
• Virus spread with faeces & secretions

Question 2

Pathogenesis?

Answer 2

Pathogenesis

• Viral intake: PO
• Viral replication: lymphoid tissues in throat
• Viraemia (1st-2nd days) macrophages & lymphocytes
• Organs with rapid cell division (lacking polymerase enzyme)
• Blood producing organs,
• anaemia Lymphoid cells, leukopenia (4-500/ml)
• Crypt cells of SI
• Myocardium in young!
• Crosses placenta (Cerebellar hypoplasia (newest info about Parvo in cats!), rarely abortion)
• Shedding of the virus with faeces from the 3rd ʹ 4th days (7-10 days)
• Antibodies in the sera: from the 3rd ʹ 4th days
• Incubation period: 3-7 days
• Antibodies increase from the 6th ʹ 7th days

Question 3

Clinical signs?

Answer 3

Clinical signs

• Incubation: 4-5 days
• General symptoms, high body temperature
• Acute enteritis (vomiting, diarrhoea, painful abdomen, exsiccosis)
• Outcome depends on age and immunity
• In adult: subclinical problem
• Young may die before onset of diarrhoea

Question 4

Pathology?

Answer 4

Pathology

• Cerebellar hypoplasia caused by intrauterine or perinatal infection
• Feline ataxia syndrome: Purkinje cells are lysing
• Oedema in intestinal wall: thickened walls & haemorrhages in SI

Question 5

Diagnosis?

Answer 5

Diagnosis

• Clinical signs, anamnesis (vaccinated/non-vaccinated)
• Virus detection from faeces:
• IF, PCR, Sandwich ELISA, virus isolation

Question 6

Differential diagnosis?

Answer 6

Differential diagnosis

• Infectious rhinotracheitis caused by herpesvirus
• Respiratory diseases
• Conjunctivitis, sneezing, coughing
• (FIP) Infectious peritonitis caused by coronavirus
• Long incubation period, peritonitis, and diarrhoea
• Diarrhoea caused by calicivirus
• Weeping, runny nose, slobbering, oral ulcers

Question 7

Vaccines?

Answer 7

Vaccines

• General rules of epidemiology
• Vaccines: inactivated (live attenuated)
• Maternal antibodies protect up to 3-4 months
• dont destroy the maternal immunity by giving vaccine too early
• Hyperimmune serum (best before the clinical signs) ʹsame like dog although cant buy like in dogs but can
• use from the mothers (check Immunoglobulin levels) although the vaccination is best!
• Combined vaccine: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus (Chlamydia felis)

Question 8

Treatment?

Answer 8

Treatment

• Based on symptoms
• Abs for secondary infections
• Quarantine