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Feline Panleukopenia (or FPV), sometimes known as "feline distemper," is a highly contagious viral disease. Taxonomically speaking, it is a parvovirus related to the canine parvovirus that most people know as "parvo." Besides affecting members of the cat family, FPV can also affect other species including minks, ferrets, and raccoons.
This disease is widespread and virtually all cats are exposed by twelve months of age. Veterinarians most often diagnose feline Panleukopenia in kittens between twelve and twenty-four weeks of age. FPV invades tissue in the gastrointestinal tract, lymphoid tissue, and the bone marrow. It causes cell death in the intestines which can lead to severe gastroenteritis.
When FPV affects the bone marrow, which produces red and white blood cells, the populations of all types of white blood cells in the body decrease. In fact, the name of this disease, "Panleukopenia," describes exactly this condition.
Feline Panleukopenia can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms in infected cats. Most symptoms appear very quickly as the disease runs a rapid course. In the gastrointestinal tract, as the virus replicates, pits and lesions will form in the intestines. Cats will experience uncontrollable diarrhea and often vomiting. These symptoms can rapidly lead extreme dehydration.
At the onset of this disease, cats will most likely become weakened and depressed and have little or no desire to eat. They will quickly develop a high fever and after approximately twenty-four hours, it will fall. Roughly two days later, the fever will rise again and unfortunately, death is often seen after this second spike in temperature. Most fatalities occur within three to five days of infection.
As this virus affects bone marrow and limits production of white blood cells, infected cats will have severely lowered white blood cell counts. This decreases their immune response and makes them much more susceptible to secondary infections. These cats can even experience seizures.
Panleukopenia can be fatal in unprotected cats and most especially unprotected (unvaccinated) kittens.
Cats and kittens become exposed to the Panleukopenia virus by contact with contaminated objects in their environment. Infected cats shed the virus in their urine and feces. This means the virus can be spread a cat using a contaminated litter box or by exposure directly with an infected cat. As well, people can carry the virus on their clothing and hands and into their homes. Panleukopenia virus can survive on surfaces for years and is not easily deactivated by normal cleaning agents.
Kittens can also become infected with Panleukopenia virus before birth. In utero transmission of this disease affects the cerebellum of unborn kittens. If they survive, they quite frequently have balance issues for the remainder of their lives.
In order to best protect your cat, your pet should receive an annual vaccination against feline Panleukopenia. Most especially, kittens need a vaccination series against this disease. Remember that this virus most often affects kittens and they have the least developed immune systems.
Diagnosis of Panleukopenia usually comes from the observed symptoms and the severe low white blood cells counts recorded in a complete blood count.
In order to treat this disease, veterinarians usually perform supplementary care based upon the symptoms their patient has. The veterinarian will probably want to monitor internal body functions with a blood chemistry panel and complete blood count. He or she will also control any gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite with anti-nausea and anti diarrhea medication and a change in diet.
People cannot become infected with FPV.
