Feline Panleukopenia
General Information
Feline panleukopenia (FP), also
known as feline distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease
that occurs wherever there are cats. Cats at any age may be stricken.
Young kittens, sick cats, and cats that have not been adequately immunized
are most susceptible; older cats are more likely to have acquired an
immunity and, therefore, are infected less frequently.
Urban areas are most likely to
see outbreaks of feline panleukopenia during the warmer months. The virus
has appeared in all parts of the United States and most countries of the
world.
Kennels, pet shops, humane
shelters, and other areas where groups of cats are quartered appear to be
the main reservoirs of feline panleukopenia today.
Dogs are not susceptible to
feline panleukopenia. Canine distemper is a different disease caused by
another virus. Neither disease is transmissible to humans.
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What Does Panleukopenia Do?
The feline panleukopenia virus
is passed from cat to cat by direct contact. The source of infection is
most commonly fecal waste from infected cats, but the virus may be present
in other body secretions.
A healthy cat can also become
infected without coming in direct contact with an infected cat. Bedding,
cages, food dishes, and the hands or clothing of handlers that contact
infected secretions may harbor and transmit the virus.
The feline panleukopenia virus
is very stable. It is resistant to many chemicals and may remain
infectious at room temperature for as long as one year. Short of raising a
cat in total isolation, it is nearly impossible to prevent exposure.
Feline panleukopenia is a
complex disease. It can vary in severity from very mild to extreme. The
many signs are not always typical and many owners may even believe that
their cat has been poisoned or has swallowed a foreign object. Because of
this fact, treatment may be delayed or neglected.
After exposure to the virus,
many of the cat's cells are destroyed. This cell loss makes the cat more
susceptible to other complications and bacterial infections.
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How Can You Tell If a Cat Has
Panleukopenia?
The first signs a owner might
notice are generalized depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy,
vomiting, dehydration, and hanging over the water dish. The course of the
disease may be short and explosive. Advanced cases, when discovered, may
cause death within hours. Normally, the sickness may go on for three or
four days after the first elevation of body temperature.
Fever will fluctuate during the
illness and abruptly fall to subnormal levels shortly before death. Other
signs in later stages may be diarrhea, anemia, and persistent vomiting.
Feline panleukopenia virus is so
prevalent and the signs of disease are so varied that any sick cat should
be taken to a veterinarian for a definite diagnosis.
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How is Panleukopenia Treated?
The prognosis for very young
kittens is poor. Older cats have greater chance of survival if adequate
treatment is provided early in the course of the disease. Treatment is
limited to supportive therapy to help the patient gain and retain
sufficient strength to combat the virus with its own immune system. There
are no antibiotics that can kill the virus.
The veterinarian will attempt to
combat extreme dehydration, provide nutrients, and prevent secondary
infection with antibiotics. Pregnant females that contract the disease,
even in its mildest form, may give birth to kittens with severe brain
damage.
Strict isolation is essential.
The area where the cat is kept should be warm, free of drafts and very
clean. Plenty of "tender loving care" even after hospital
discharge is very important. Cats may lose the will to live; so frequent
petting, hand feeding, the cautious use of heating pads, and good nursing
care by the owner is essential.
Other cats that may have been in
close association with the infected animal should be carefully examined.
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Prevention and Protection
Feline panleukopenia is
controlled in several ways. Cats that survive a natural infection usually
develop sufficient, active immunity to protect them for the rest of their
lives. Mild cases may go unnoticed and also produce immunity.
It is also possible for kittens
to receive immunity from their mother through the transfer of antibody.
This passive immunity from the mother is temporary and its effectiveness
varies in proportion to the level of antibody in the mother's body.
Vaccines offer the safest
protection. They stimulate the cat's body to produce protective antibodies
against the virus to prevent infection by natural, disease causing
viruses. The vaccines are very effective but are preventive, not curative.
They must be administered before the cat is exposed and infected to be
effective.
Specific vaccination schedules
vary dependent on many factors, such as the disease incidence in the area,
and age and health of the cat.
The pet owner should consult a
veterinarian for advice on the correct schedule for each cat.
