Feline panleukopenia
Encyclopedia
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), also known as Feline infectious enteritis, Feline distemper, feline ataxia, or cat plague, is a viral infection affecting cats, both domesticated and wild feline species. It is caused by feline parvovirus
, a close relative of both type 2 canine parvovirus
and mink enteritis. Once contracted, it is highly contagious and can be fatal to the affected cat. The name, panleucopenia, comes from the low white blood cell count (leucocyte
s) exhibited by affected animals.
s, as well as by fleas. It may be spread to and by cats, minks and ferrets and can be spread long distances through contact with bedding, food dishes, or even by clothing and shoes of handlers of infected animals. It is not, however, contagious or contractable by humans. Like all parvoviruses, FPV is extremely resistant to inactivation and can survive for longer than one year in a suitable environment.
The virus primarily attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract
, causing internal ulceration
and, ultimately, total sloughing of the intestinal epithelium
. This results in profuse and usually bloody diarrhea, severe dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia, and often death. It causes a decrease in the cat's white blood cell
s, thus compromising its immune system. Typically, it also causes a decrease in hematocrit
and platelet
counts on a complete blood count
. This is often key in diagnosing panleukopenia. Other symptoms include depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, loss of skin elasticity due to dehydration, and self-biting in the tail, lower back and back legs. Affected cats may sit for hours at their water bowl, although they may not drink much. Terminal
cases are hypothermic and may develop septic shock
and disseminated intravascular coagulation
. Most panleukopenia deaths are due to secondary infections or dehydration resulting from diarrhea. This is because the virus affects the infected cats immune system, leaving it vulnerable to secondary infection.
If a cat is exposed during pregnancy, the virus can cause cerebellar hypoplasia
in her offspring. This is why administering modified live feline panleukopenia vaccine during pregnancy is discouraged.
Feline panleukopaenia and canine parvovirus are extremely closely related, and viruses can be transmitted between dogs and cats (see Decaro et al. (2010) Characterisation of canine parvovirus strains isolated from cats with feline panleukopenia. Research in Veterinary Science)
, enteric toxosis, FIV, feline leukemia, cryptosporidiosis
, pancreatitis
, septicaemia with acute endotoxemia, toxoplasmosis
, peritonitis
, and lymphoma. In an unvaccinated cat, the presence of antibodies against FPLV indicate that the cat either has the disease or has had the disease in the past, but in many cases subclinical disease occurs so this test is unreliable.
s (ATCvet codes: for the inactivated viral vaccine and for the live vaccine). A number of combination vaccines for several different diseases, including panleukopenia, are also available.
and other electrolyte disturbances are also quite common, as is hypotension
, hyperpyrexia or, late in the disease, hypothermia
. The patients' severe leukocytopenia predispose them to secondary infections, especially bacterial and fungal, though secondary viral infections also occur with some frequency. Disseminated intravascular coagulation may also occur, and is often fatal. Extreme thrombocytopenia
may also occur, and can lead to severe hemorrhagic complications. Even if a cat survives acute FPL, late complications such as cardiomyopathy
and myocarditis
can occur, though there have never been any reported cases of hematologic or gastrointestinal sequalae, and it seems that late myocarditis or cardiomyopathy is extremely rare in feline panleukopenia-affected cats. Overall, any long-term sequalae in survivors of feline panleukopenia is extremely rare, with almost all cats who survive making a full recovery.
, to deal with a mouse problem in the local meteorological
station, went out of growth control. Starting from the first five domestic cats introduced on the island on 1949, there were about 3,400 cats in 1977, feeding on the burrowing petrels instead of the mice, threatening to drive the birds to extinction. A "cat eradication program" was set up and few cats were intentionally infected with the panleukopenia virus, which reduced the number of cats to about 600 by 1982.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus, often truncated to "parvo", is both the common name in English casually applied to all the viruses in the Parvoviridae taxonomic family, and also the taxonomic name of the Parvovirus genus within the Parvoviridae family...
, a close relative of both type 2 canine parvovirus
Canine parvovirus
Canine parvovirus type 2 is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs. The disease is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It can be especially severe in puppies that are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccination. It has two...
and mink enteritis. Once contracted, it is highly contagious and can be fatal to the affected cat. The name, panleucopenia, comes from the low white blood cell count (leucocyte
Leucocyte
Leucocyte may refer to:*White blood cells*Leucocyte , a 2008 album by the jazz band E.S.T....
s) exhibited by affected animals.
Transmission and Clinical Signs
Panleukopenia is primarily spread through contact with an infected animals bodily fluids, feces, or other fomiteFomite
A fomite is any inanimate object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms and hence transferring them from one individual to another. A fomite can be anything...
s, as well as by fleas. It may be spread to and by cats, minks and ferrets and can be spread long distances through contact with bedding, food dishes, or even by clothing and shoes of handlers of infected animals. It is not, however, contagious or contractable by humans. Like all parvoviruses, FPV is extremely resistant to inactivation and can survive for longer than one year in a suitable environment.
The virus primarily attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal tract
The human gastrointestinal tract refers to the stomach and intestine, and sometimes to all the structures from the mouth to the anus. ....
, causing internal ulceration
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
and, ultimately, total sloughing of the intestinal epithelium
Epithelium
Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...
. This results in profuse and usually bloody diarrhea, severe dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia, and often death. It causes a decrease in the cat's white blood cell
White blood cell
White blood cells, or leukocytes , are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a...
s, thus compromising its immune system. Typically, it also causes a decrease in hematocrit
Hematocrit
The hematocrit or packed cell volume or erythrocyte volume fraction is the percentage of the concentration of red blood cells in blood. It is normally about 45% for men and 40% for women...
and platelet
Platelet
Platelets, or thrombocytes , are small,irregularly shaped clear cell fragments , 2–3 µm in diameter, which are derived from fragmentation of precursor megakaryocytes. The average lifespan of a platelet is normally just 5 to 9 days...
counts on a complete blood count
Complete blood count
A complete blood count , also known as full blood count or full blood exam or blood panel, is a test panel requested by a doctor or other medical professional that gives information about the cells in a patient's blood...
. This is often key in diagnosing panleukopenia. Other symptoms include depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, loss of skin elasticity due to dehydration, and self-biting in the tail, lower back and back legs. Affected cats may sit for hours at their water bowl, although they may not drink much. Terminal
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
cases are hypothermic and may develop septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
and disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation , also known as disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or consumptive coagulopathy, is a pathological activation of coagulation mechanisms that happens in response to a variety of diseases. DIC leads to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood...
. Most panleukopenia deaths are due to secondary infections or dehydration resulting from diarrhea. This is because the virus affects the infected cats immune system, leaving it vulnerable to secondary infection.
If a cat is exposed during pregnancy, the virus can cause cerebellar hypoplasia
Cerebellar hypoplasia (non-human)
Cerebellar hypoplasia is a disorder found in cats and dogs in which the cerebellum is not completely mature at birth.-Symptoms:Usually symptoms of cerebellar hypoplasia can be seen immediately at birth in cats, but sometimes can take two months or so to become apparent in dogs. Cerebellar...
in her offspring. This is why administering modified live feline panleukopenia vaccine during pregnancy is discouraged.
Feline panleukopaenia and canine parvovirus are extremely closely related, and viruses can be transmitted between dogs and cats (see Decaro et al. (2010) Characterisation of canine parvovirus strains isolated from cats with feline panleukopenia. Research in Veterinary Science)
Diagnosis
Generally, a clinical diagnosis of feline panleukopenia [FPL] can be made based on characteristic gastroenteric illness and severe pancytopenia in a susceptible cat, but fecal analysis and blood culture is typically performed as well to rule out other illnesses. Differential diagnoses for FPL include salmonellosisSalmonellosis
Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. In most cases, the illness lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment...
, enteric toxosis, FIV, feline leukemia, cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis, also known as crypto, is a parasitic disease caused by Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. It affects the intestines of mammals and is typically an acute short-term infection...
, pancreatitis
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the small intestine. It may be acute – beginning suddenly and lasting a few days, or chronic – occurring over many years...
, septicaemia with acute endotoxemia, toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of feces of a cat that has itself...
, peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
, and lymphoma. In an unvaccinated cat, the presence of antibodies against FPLV indicate that the cat either has the disease or has had the disease in the past, but in many cases subclinical disease occurs so this test is unreliable.
Vaccination
Protection is offered by commercial feline distemper vaccineVaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s (ATCvet codes: for the inactivated viral vaccine and for the live vaccine). A number of combination vaccines for several different diseases, including panleukopenia, are also available.
Treatment
Feline panleukopenia requires aggressive treatment if the cat is to survive, as this disease can kill cats in less than 24 hours. Treatment involves whole blood transfusion to improve pancytopenia, intravenous fluids as most cats are dehydrated, injections of vitamins A, B, and C, IV antibiotics to prevent septicemia, which develops in most cats with feline panleukopenia if antibiotics are not used, and hospitalization.Prognosis
Of affected kittens that are two months or less of age, 95% die regardless of treatment. Kittens that are more than two months old have a 60-70% mortality rate with treatment and a nearly 100% mortality rate if not treated. Adult cats have a 10-20% mortality rate if treated, and an 85% mortality rate if not treated. Elderly cats have a 20-30% mortality rate if treated and a 90% mortality rate if not treated.Complications
Complications are quite common in feline panleukopenia [FPL]. The most prevalent one is dehydration, which develops in almost all FPL-infected cats that are clinically ill. HyponatremiaHyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
and other electrolyte disturbances are also quite common, as is hypotension
Hypotension
In physiology and medicine, hypotension is abnormally low blood pressure, especially in the arteries of the systemic circulation. It is best understood as a physiologic state, rather than a disease. It is often associated with shock, though not necessarily indicative of it. Hypotension is the...
, hyperpyrexia or, late in the disease, hypothermia
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
. The patients' severe leukocytopenia predispose them to secondary infections, especially bacterial and fungal, though secondary viral infections also occur with some frequency. Disseminated intravascular coagulation may also occur, and is often fatal. Extreme thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a relative decrease of platelets in blood.A normal human platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. These limits are determined by the 2.5th lower and upper percentile, so values outside this range do not necessarily indicate disease...
may also occur, and can lead to severe hemorrhagic complications. Even if a cat survives acute FPL, late complications such as cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death or both. Cardiomyopathy can often go undetected, making it especially dangerous to...
and myocarditis
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of heart muscle . It resembles a heart attack but coronary arteries are not blocked.Myocarditis is most often due to infection by common viruses, such as parvovirus B19, less commonly non-viral pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi or Trypanosoma cruzi, or as a...
can occur, though there have never been any reported cases of hematologic or gastrointestinal sequalae, and it seems that late myocarditis or cardiomyopathy is extremely rare in feline panleukopenia-affected cats. Overall, any long-term sequalae in survivors of feline panleukopenia is extremely rare, with almost all cats who survive making a full recovery.
Prince Edward Islands
At the beginning of the 1980s, cats brought to Marion Island, one of the Prince Edward IslandsPrince Edward Islands
The Prince Edward Islands are two small islands in the sub-antarctic Indian Ocean that are part of South Africa. The islands, named Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, are located at ....
, to deal with a mouse problem in the local meteorological
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
station, went out of growth control. Starting from the first five domestic cats introduced on the island on 1949, there were about 3,400 cats in 1977, feeding on the burrowing petrels instead of the mice, threatening to drive the birds to extinction. A "cat eradication program" was set up and few cats were intentionally infected with the panleukopenia virus, which reduced the number of cats to about 600 by 1982.
External links
- American Veterinary Medical Association brochure on Feline Panluekopenia
- Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia) from The Pet Health Library
- Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. Cat Health Care FAQ
- AVMA article on the benefits and risks of feline vaccines
- Colorado State University article on the potential connection between CRF and vaccinations
- Feline panleukopenia (Felipedia.org)