Feline Panleukopenia : Leading cause of death in cats

Rishokphi Zingkhai *

Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, potentially fatal disease of cats caused by small, serologically homogenous parvovirus with a single stranded DNA. Kittens are most severely affected . Most free roaming cats are exposed to the virus during their first year. Although cats of any age may catch the virus, young kittens and sick cats are most likely to become ill.

Cats can get infected during the pregnancy and give birth to brain damaged kittens. These kittens have difficulty walking and feeding. Severe clinical illness is the rule in young vaccinated kittens; the highest mortality and morbidity occurs between 3 and 5 months of age. Sudden neonatal or adolescent death has been observed in kittens of 4 weeks to 12 months of age from house-holds of vaccinated cats.

Transmission

The disease is spread through faeces, urine and nasal secretions by those cats who have the disease. The virus can contaminate cages, bedding, dishes and the hands and clothes of handlers and fleas from infected animal. Cats can still pass out the virus in urine and faeces upto 6 weeks of recovery.

The virus may survive for years in a contaminated environment, but can be destroyed by a dilution of household bleach (sodium hypochloride).

Clinical signs and symptoms

The disease has an acute self limiting course. In severe case, cats may die with 12 hours, as if poisoned, with little or no premonitory signs.

They may be found in terminal stages of septic shock, being profoundly dehydrated, low temperature and in a state of coma. They can also die suddenly from complications associated with secondary bacterial infection. The acute form is the most common with high fever (104-107 degree F), extreme dehydration, loss of appetite occurring within3 to 4 days before presentation.

Extreme dehydration sometimes exhibited by the cat crouching with its head over the water dish may occur as a non specific feature of this disease. With the onset of fever animals become depressed and weak Diarrhoea and vomiting may occur 1-2 days after the initial temperature rise. The course of the disease seldom is more than 5 to 7 days.

Frequently, one kitten after another in an affected litter will develop severe clinical signs over a period of several days. On abdominal palpation, the intestinal loops may have thickened rope like consistency and discomfort is commonly noted. Oral ulceration, bloody diarrhoea, jaundice may be found in complicated infections.

Animals that survive infection for longer than 5 days without developing fatal complications usually recover, although recovery frequently takes several weeks. Queens (adult female cat) infected or vaccinated during pregnancy may show infertility or abortion of dead or mummified foetuses. Some kittens may be born with inco-ordination, involuntary shaking or trembling movements.

They may walk with broad based stance with hypermetric movements. Not all kittens in the litter are affected. Affected kittens with minimal cerebellar dysfunction can compensate to a degree with time and make suitable pets with subtle residual deficits. Treatment Therapy depends on supportive management and nursing care until natural defences return. Cats that survive for 5 to 7 days will probably recover.

Food and water should be withheld until antiemetics (drugs used to suppress vomiting) are no longer no needed. A balanced electrolyte solution such as like lactated Ringer's with calculated potassium supplementation should be administered through an indwelling IV catheter .

Early treatment with plasma or whole blood from healthy immune donors is indicated for cats that are on the verge of dying or those that are highly deficient of enough healthy blood cells. Vitamin B and glucose supplementation can also be given if the glucose level drops. Broad spectrum antibiotics should also be given to prevent further infection by other disease.

A hot water blanket or heating pad should be used if the animal's temperature drops very low. After vomiting has subsided, frequent small amounts of bland, easily digestible foods may be offered.

Prevention

Excellent inactivated and modified live virus vaccines that provide solid, long lasting immunity are available for prevention of feline panleukopenia. Live vaccines should not be given to cats that are pregnant, immunosuppressed, or sick, or to kittens < 4 week old.

In low risk homes and for kittens of vaccinated queens (adult female cat) the first vaccination is usually recommended at 6 weeks, with revaccination every 3-4 weeks until 16-20 weeks of age. Revaccination should be considered at 6 months to 1 year of age. Following that, cats should be revaccinated against Feline panleukopenia virus every 3 years.

In high risk, community cats or shelter settings vaccination should be started at 4 weeks of age kittens should be vaccinated every 2 weeks while in shelter until they are 20 weeks. In addition to vaccination some measures can be taken — Avoid contact with known infected cats and their premises. Keep your cats indoors to reduce the risk of exposure to potentially infected cats.

Wash or sanitize your hands after handling other cats ,especially if they appear sick. avoid sharing toys, food bowls and other items between your cat and other cats and those of unknown health or vaccination status.

When bringing a new cat or kitten into a home where other cats live, keep the new animals separated until veterinarian has had the chance to examine the newcomer and they've received their necessary vaccines.

Keep sick cats away from other cats and disinfect possible feline panleukopenia virus contaminated surfaces with a 1:32 dilution of household bleach (1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water)applied for atleast 10 minutes.

"How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven."