Dr. Joey Tang, DVM
What’s feline Panleukopenia?
Feline panleukopenia is a contagious, and probably life-threatening viral an infection in cats brought on by the Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV). This virus is transmitted between cats by way of bodily fluid, together with feces, urine, saliva, and nasal discharge. Nonetheless, it can be carried to different cats by way of inorganic vectors (equivalent to clothes, bedding, and so forth.). Though this can be very infectious between cats, this virus is proscribed to cats solely and can’t infect different species, equivalent to people and canines.
As soon as the virus enters a cat’s physique, it usually targets the bone marrow and the GI system of the animal. When the virus infects the bone marrow, it impacts the manufacturing of the white blood cells (immune cells of the physique), resulting in a lower within the whole variety of white blood cells throughout the physique. Attributable to this, the physique’s immune system is weakened and turns into extra prone to different infections. Within the GI system, the virus causes destruction to the interior lining of the GI tract, usually resulting in diarrhea.
Which cats are in danger?
The Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV) is kind of widespread in the environment and due to this fact most cats are uncovered to the virus to some extent throughout their lifespan. Nonetheless, due to the existence of a extremely efficient vaccine, an infection and scientific illness are typically restricted to unvaccinated cats (particularly kittens), barn/feral cats, and sometimes shelters.
Signs of Panleukopenia
The most typical scientific indicators related to Feline Panleukopenia are:
- Potential for fever and vomiting to develop
If a pregnant mom cat turns into contaminated with FPV throughout being pregnant, it’s doable for the virus to contaminate the fetuses and trigger cerebellar hypoplasia. These kittens can be born with underdeveloped cerebellums, which then result in tremoring throughout purposeful motion. Kittens with cerebellar hypoplasia are thought-about to have high quality of life; nevertheless, they’ll have irregular/wobbly gaits for the remainder of their lives.
Remedy of Panleukopenia
Sadly, there isn’t any present remedy or direct remedy for this viral illness. Due to this fact, remedy is aimed in the direction of supportive care and remedy of secondary infections. This usually consists of antibiotics for potential secondary bacterial infections, fluid remedy to assist with dehydration, and probably different medicines to assist with the scientific indicators.
A cat that has undergone remedy and recovered can nonetheless probably shed the virus for as much as one other six weeks.
Prevention
Though there isn’t a remedy for this virus, there’s a very efficient vaccine obtainable. This vaccination is taken into account as a core vaccine for each cat and is usually really helpful throughout kittenhood, each three to 4 weeks from six weeks previous to about 16 weeks, and all through grownup life.
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