Panleukopenia in cats, also known colloquially as "feline typhus" or "feline distemper", is a highly contagious viral disease with acute enteritis. It is accompanied by a significant reduction in the level of white blood cells - leukocytes. This is where its name comes from.

Panleukopeniais caused by FPV (feline parvovirus) virus belonging to the parvovirus group. Therefore, panleukopenia can be called the counterpart of parvovirosis in dogs. The virus exists as a single serotype. It is very resistant to environmental factors and is difficult to fight. It withstands high temperatures, freezing, drying and the action of many disinfectants. In an environment without a host, it can live up to a year.

Panleukopenia: pathways of infection

The virus that causes panleukopenia (feline typhus) is excreted by sick or asymptomatic animals mainly with faeces, but also through other secretions: vomit, urine, saliva.

Infection occurs mainly through the ingestion, and can also be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy.

Worth knowing

Kittens are the most vulnerable to panleukopenia

Panleukopenia usually affects unvaccinated kittens, young - from 6 weeks to 4 months of age. Younger animals are resistant because they still have maternal immunity. Above 6 weeks of age, maternal immunity begins to decline and then the exposure to infection is greatest.

Older or already adult animals have mild or even asymptomatic disease. But they can be a source of infection for younger individuals.

The virus replicates (multiplies) in cells that divide rapidly. They are: epithelial cells of the small intestines, cells of lymph tissue and bone marrow. Therefore, the disease affects the digestive and hematopoietic systems. In fetuses and newborns, cells of the cerebellum and retina divide the fastest, so the symptoms concern these organs.

Panleukopenia: Symptoms

The disease begins suddenly. Initially, severe apathy, reluctance to move, and lack of appetite are observed. The cat is lying on the sternum with its legs curled up, reluctantly moving, assuming a hunched position. He has spiky and dull hair. Vomiting occurs quickly. As long as there is no death by then, he joinsfoul-smelling diarrhea, possibly with blood. The symptoms are initially accompanied by high fever, and later, due to severe weakness, body temperature may drop significantly below normal, which is a prognostically bad symptom. Kittens have a mortality rate of 25-75%.

Intrauterine infection occurs when the mother was not exposed to the parvovirus before she became pregnant. If the infection occurs in the first trimester, fetal death and resorption occur. Infections in the later stages of pregnancy result in miscarriages.

If the infection occurs before the end of pregnancy, babies may develop underdevelopment of the cerebellum and defects in the structure of the eyeball. Such kittens have neurological disorders from birth - ataxia and muscle tremors.

Panleukopenia: diagnosis

The diagnosis of panleukopenia (made on the basis of the clinical course of the disease and the cat's age) is confirmed by the result of a morphological examination. There is a very severe drop in the number of leukocytes (white blood cells) - usually down to 2000-4000 cells / dl. With a drop below 2000, the prognosis is poor.

Rapid diagnosis of feline typhus is possible thanks to plate testing. Such tests are based on the immunological method for detecting the virus antigen in the feces of cats.

Panleukopenia: home treatment and treatment

Due to the viral etiology of the disease, treatment is only symptomatic. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, all drugs are administered without the gastrointestinal tract, in the form of injections and drips.

1. The key to the recovery process is proper hydration and strengthening of our pet. Fluids replenishing electrolytes and glucose should be administered intravenously. If fasting lasts longer, intravenous glucose nutrition alone is not enough, amino acid infusions should be given.

2. It is also important to administer antiemetics, which will indirectly reduce dehydration and loss of electrolytes by stopping vomiting.

3. Antibiotic therapy is used to prevent bacterial complications.

4. In order to support the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium, the cat should be given vitamins, especially those from group B.

5. If the cat does not eat for more than 3-5 days, the risk of fatty liver increases. Therefore, with such a long reluctance to eat, force feeding should be introduced. You can feed the cat with a syringe on semi-solid diets (preferably ready-made diets with high energy concentration for malnourished and weakened animals) or by feeding the food through a nasogastric tube.founded by a veterinarian.

6. Formerly, an antiserum preparation was available that contained ready-made antibodies and helped fight the disease. Unfortunately, it is not available on the market now. We can save a kitten by administering serum from another cat that has developed panleukopenia and recovered. In this way, we will provide the small organism with the necessary antibodies. It is sometimes necessary to transfuse whole blood from an adult he althy cat.

Panleukopenia: how to prevent cat typhus?

There is a vaccine against panleukopenia on the market, which, when combined with cat runny nose viruses, is one of the basic immunizations in cats. Vaccination of young kittens is started with the first dose at 8-9 weeks of age and the dose should be repeated again at 11-12 weeks of age. If we vaccinate a cat over 12 weeks of age, one vaccination is enough.

In prophylaxis, it is also very important to reduce risk factors, such as: avoiding stress factors that may cause a decrease in immunity and exposure to infection, compliance with hygiene rules, frequent cleaning of litter boxes, not placing bowls of water and food near the litter boxes.

If there is a disease in the home, remove the bowls, litter boxes and lairs left by the sick cat. The environment should be thoroughly disinfected. A solution of sodium hypochlorite, found in commonly available toilet cleaners, can be used. It should be added that the virus is so resistant that the above-mentioned agent destroys it only after one hour of operation.

Since the virus can survive in a hostless environment for up to a year, it would be safest to wait this period before introducing a new cat into the house. If a new cat shows up in your home it is essential that he is vaccinated with a full set of panleukopenia vaccinations and that min. 2 weeks after the last vaccination.

About the authorEwa Korycka-Grzegorczyk, a veterinarian

A graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. She has experience in the treatment of companion animals, with particular emphasis on dermatology, cytology and infectious diseases. She gained professional experience in clinics in Lublin and Łódź. He is currently working at a veterinary clinic in Pabianice. He constantly deepens his skills by participating in courses and conferences.

Privately, a cat lover and owner of a beautiful, red Maine-Coon named Felin.

Bibliography:

1. T. Frymus,Viral, bacterial, fungal and prion diseases of cats , Warsaw 2005.

2. Z. Gliński, K.Kostro,Infectious diseases of animals zelements of epidemiology and zoonosis , Warsaw 2011.

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