[Parvovirus infections in cats in animal shelters]. / Parvovirus-Infektionen bei Katzen in Tierheimen.

Due to widespread vaccination programs against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), the disease associated with this virus infection, feline panleukopenia, is rarely seen in privately owned cats in Germany. In contrast, the situation in animal shelters differs due to the constant intake of new cats that are often unprotected. In such facilities, panleukopenia outbreaks are common and often accompanied by a high number of fatalities. Due to the high contagiosity of the virus, some shelters do not accept cats with clinical signs suspicious for panleukopenia, since these animals can pose a risk to the shelter population. However, not only cats with panleukopenia shed parvovirus, but also healthy, asymptomatic cats can and thus contribute to risk of infection. Nevertheless, the risk for panleukopenia outbreaks in animal shelters can be reduced by rigorous outbreak management. This includes hygiene measures using correctly applied cleaning and disinfection protocols, quarantine measures, separate isolation units, as well as specific prophylactic measures, such as identification of infected animals and immunization of susceptible groups.

Prevalence of protective feline panleukopenia antibody titers detected by a point-of-care enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cats presenting to a university emergency service.

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of protective antibody titers against feline panleukopenia (FPL) in cats presenting to an emergency service. Seventy-five cats presenting for care for any injury or illness were eligible for inclusion. Using American Association of Feline Practitioners guidelines, vaccine status - up-to-date, not up-to-date, or unconfirmed - was recorded. Titers against FPL were semi-quantified using a point-of-care test and were classified as protective or non-protective. Of the 75 cats enrolled, 49 had protective titers (65%), whereas 26 (35%) did not. Fifty cats (66.7%) were considered up-to-date, whereas 25 cats (33.3%) were not up-to-date or unconfirmed. Not all up-to-date cats had positive titers and some cats with lapsed vaccines were still considered protected. Of the up-to-date cats, 35/50 (70%) had protective titers, whereas 15 (30%) did not. Of the 25 cats that were not up-to-date, titers were considered protective in 14 (56%) and absent in 11 (44%). This study supports that even in cats considered up-to-date, it is possible that adequate protection against FPL is not present. Care should be taken to appropriately isolate cats affected with illness attributable to FPL from other cats and prevent inadvertent nosocomial transmission.

Le but de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence des titres d'anticorps protecteurs contre la panleucopénie féline (FPL) chez des chats présentés à un service d'urgence. Soixante-quinze chats présentés pour diverses blessures et maladies étaient éligibles à l'inclusion. L'état de vaccination, à jour ou non à jour/non confirmé selon les directives de l'AAFP a été enregistré. Les titres de FPL ont été semi-quantifiés à l'aide d'un test au chevet du patient et ont été classés comme protecteurs ou non protecteurs. Sur les 75 chats inclus, 49 avaient des titres protecteurs (65 %), tandis que 26 (35 %) n'en avaient pas. Cinquante chats (66,7 %) ont été considérés comme à jour, tandis que 25 chats (33,3 %) étaient non à jour ou non confirmés. Parmi les chats à jour, 35/50 (70 %) avaient des titres protecteurs, tandis que 15 (30 %) n'en avaient pas. Sur les 25 chats qui étaient non à jour, les titres étaient considérés comme protecteurs chez 14 (56 %) et absents chez 11 (44 %). Les chats qui étaient à jour n'avaient pas uniformément des titres positifs, tandis que certains chats dont les vaccins n'étaient pas à jour étaient encore considérés comme protégés. Cette étude soutient que même chez les chats considérés à jour, il est possible qu'une protection adéquate contre la FPL ne soit pas présente. Des précautions doivent être prises pour isoler de manière appropriée les chats atteints de maladies attribuables à la panleucopénie féline des autres chats et éviter une transmission nosocomiale accidentelle.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Fecal viral DNA shedding following clinical panleukopenia virus infection in shelter kittens: a prospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the magnitude and duration of fecal viral DNA shedding after diagnosis of feline panleukopenia (FP) in a group of shelter cats using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR); to assess the utility of a negative point-of-care test or the resolution of diarrhea and systemic signs as proxy measures for qPCR positivity; and to investigate patterns of additional enteric pathogens in relation to feline panleukopenia viral shedding duration. METHODS: Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection in clinically affected shelter cats was confirmed by a commercial qPCR test. Observations were made on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post-diagnosis. Fecal flotation, FPV qPCR and the canine parvovirus IDEXX SNAP Parvo ELISA (SNAP) test were performed on fecal samples. RESULTS: Forty cats and kittens with confirmed panleukopenia were initially enrolled. Sixteen kittens were sampled until day 14, and 12 were followed to day 21. Median DNA viral copy numbers fell below the diagnostic cut-off by day 7, with 13/16, 6/16, 1/16 and 0/12 testing PCR-positive on days 3, 7, 14 and 21, respectively. The SNAP test was positive in 12/16 kittens on day 0 and only 3/16 on day 3. SNAP test results, diarrhea and systemic signs were inconsistent in relation to qPCR positivity post-diagnosis. Additional enteric pathogens were common. The presence of additional pathogen types was suggestive of a longer PCR shedding duration, but this was not tested statistically owing to the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that cats should be isolated for at least 14 days after a diagnosis of FP, but that release from isolation after this point is reasonable, in association with a multifaceted infection control strategy. The study findings did not support using SNAP test results, diarrhea or systemic signs as proxy measures for virus shedding.

First molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the VP2 gene of feline panleukopenia virus in Bangladesh.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a highly contagious infectious pathogen of cats globally. However, there is no information on the molecular identification and characterization of FPV in Bangladesh. Here, 8.16% (8/98) and 18.37% (18/98) of diarrheic cats tested positive for FPV by an immunochromatography (IC) test and PCR, respectively. The IC test showed 44.44% sensitivity and 100% specificity in comparison with PCR. Our newly sequenced Bangladeshi FPV strain (MN826076) showed the highest (99.71%) sequence identity to strains from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Strain MN826076 contained two characteristic amino acid variations in VP2 identifying it as an FPV strain: valine at position 103 and aspartic acid at position 323. Phylogenetically, the VP2 of strain MN826076 was found to be closely related to 19 FPV strains, sharing the same clade.

Diagnostic testing for feline panleukopenia in a shelter setting: a prospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to optimize the diagnosis of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection in a shelter setting by: (1) comparing the results of the canine parvovirus IDEXX SNAP Parvo (SNAP) point-of-care ELISA with a commercial FPV quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test; (2) assessing whether vomit and anal/rectal swabs could be used for early diagnosis; and (3) clarifying the interpretation of weak-positive SNAP test results. METHODS: The study included shelter cats and kittens with incomplete or unknown vaccination history that had clinical signs suspicious for feline panleukopenia and fecal SNAP and PCR tests performed within 24 h of onset. Feces, anal/rectal swabs and vomit were tested using SNAP and PCR, with fecal PCR utilized as the reference standard. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-five cats were included. Seventeen were diagnosed with FPV infection and 62 were negative; 66 could not be individually designated because they were co-housed. Sensitivity was as follows: fecal SNAP 55% (n = 102; 95% confidence interval [CI] 32-77); swab SNAP 30% (n = 55; 95% CI 7-65); swab PCR 77% (n = 55; 95% CI 46-95); and vomit PCR 100% (n = 17; 95% CI 16-100). Specificity was high (96-100%) for all sample and test types. For PCR-positive fecal samples, true-positive SNAP tests (including weak positives) had significantly higher DNA viral copy numbers than false-negative SNAP tests (P = 0.0031). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The SNAP ELISA should be viewed as an initial diagnostic test to rule in feline panleukopenia. Positive fecal SNAP test results, including weak positives, are highly likely to be true positives in clinically affected animals. Negative results in clinically affected animals are unreliable and should be followed up with PCR testing.

Detection of canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia virus in fecal samples by strand exchange amplification.

Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) often cause acute enteric disease in their hosts. A simple, rapid, and effective method for the on-site detection of these viruses would be useful. We used a denaturation bubble-mediated strand exchange amplification (SEA) method to successfully detect CPV-2 and FPLV in fecal samples. SEA could detect as little as 3.6 pg/µL of CPV-2 and 6.6 pg/µL of FPLV genomic DNA following a 40-min incubation at an isothermal temperature of 61°C. Unlike PCR, SEA does not require complicated equipment, and positive samples produce a color change that can be visualized by the naked eye. Additionally, SEA is simpler than PCR because no extraction is needed, and heating of the fecal sample at 98°C can be performed with a heating block or water bath. This rapid and effective nucleic acid detection platform could be used as a point-of-care test for the detection of CPV-2 and FPLV.

Development of a recombinase polymerase amplification assay with lateral flow dipstick for rapid detection of feline parvovirus.

Feline panleukopenia caused by feline parvovirus (FPV), a single-stranded DNA virus, is typically highly contagious and often presents with lethal syndrome. The broad spectrum of possible hosts suggests its potential for transmission from animal to person through close contact with pets. FPV thus serves as an example of the importance of new rapid point-of-care field diagnostic tools for the control and prevention of transmission, especially among rare wild animals and pet cats. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), as a real-time and isothermal method, could be a more affordable alternative to PCR when combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) indicator. In this study, we report a novel FPV lateral flow dipstick RPA (LFD-RPA) instant detection method capable of detecting a range of different FPV strains. The LFD-RPA assay consists of specific primers, probe, and nucleic acid strip. It is capable of detecting 102 copies of target nucleic acid per reaction, which is one order of magnitude higher than the sensitivity of traditional PCR. The most suitable reaction conditions for this assay are at 38 ℃ for 15 min. This paper develops an efficient visual detection system that can eliminate the need for professional staff and expensive and sophisticated equipment for field detection.

Lymphoplasmacytic Meningoencephalitis and Neuronal Necrosis Associated With Parvoviral Infection in Cats.

Neurologic manifestations other than cerebellar hypoplasia are rarely associated with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection in cats. Here the authors describe lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis and neuronal necrosis in 2 cats autopsied after exhibiting ataxia and nystagmus. Gross changes consisted of cerebellar herniation through the foramen magnum, with flattening of cerebrocortical gyri and narrowing of sulci. Histologically, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis, extensive neuronal necrosis, and neuroaxonal degeneration with digestion chambers were present in the telencephalon and brain stem in both cats. Frozen brain tissue of both cats was positive for parvoviral antigen via fluorescent antibody testing, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of brain were immunoreactive for parvovirus antigen and positive for parvoviral DNA on in situ hybridization. Frozen brain tissue from 1 case was positive for parvovirus NS1 and VP2 genes using conventional polymerase chain reaction, and subsequent DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the viral strain was a FPV. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain tissue revealed high levels of parvovirus in both cases, supporting an acute and active viral infection. Although rare, FPV infection should be considered in cases of lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis and neuronal necrosis in cats.

[Feline panleukopenia - the important role of antibodies]. / Feline Panleukopenie ­ die wichtige Rolle von Antikörpern.

Feline panleukopenia is an important infectious disease. Despite vaccination, panleukopenia remains common, particularly in young kittens. Development of active immunity after primary vaccination is essential for protection. Therefore, vaccination against panleukopenia is a core vaccine. Efficacy of primary vaccination can be reduced by maternally derived antibodies that can persist up to 20 weeks and interfere with the vaccination. In adult cats, antibody development after vaccination can be reduced during chronic disease or immunosuppression. Approximately 30% of adult cats lack antibodies. Evaluation of antibody titres in kittens enables calculation of the ideal time point to initiate primary vaccinations with the goal to establish effective immunity. In adult cats, evaluation of antibody titres is a useful alternative to avoid unnecessary vaccinations and to create an individual vaccination schedule. Only cats lacking antibodies should be vaccinated. Evaluation of antibodies in private practice can be performed using a rapid in-house test.

Molecular analysis of partial VP-2 gene amplified from rectal swab samples of diarrheic dogs in Pakistan confirms the circulation of canine parvovirus genetic variant CPV-2a and detects sequences of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

BACKGROUND: The infection in dogs due to canine parvovirus (CPV), is a highly contagious one with high mortality rate. The present study was undertaken for a detailed genetic analysis of partial VP2 gene i.e., 630 bp isolated from rectal swab samples of infected domestic and stray dogs from all areas of district Faisalabad. Monitoring of viruses is important, as continuous prevalence of viral infection might be associated with emergence of new virulent strains. METHODS: In the present study, 40 rectal swab samples were collected from diarrheic dogs from different areas of district Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 2014-15 and screened for the presence of CPV by immunochromatography. Most of these dogs were stray dogs showing symptoms of diarrhea. Viral DNA was isolated and partial VP2 gene was amplified using gene specific primer pair Hfor/Hrev through PCR. Amplified fragments were cloned in pTZ57R/T (Fermentas) and completely sequenced. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by the Lasergene DNA analysis package (v8; DNAStar Inc., Madison, WI, USA). RESULTS: The results with immunochromatography showed that 33/40 (82%) of dogs were positive for CPV. We were able to amplify a fragment of 630 bp from 25 samples. In 25 samples the sequences of CPV-2a were detected showing the amino acid substitution Ser297Ala and presence of amino acid (426-Asn) in partial VP2 protein. Interestingly the BLAST analysis showed the of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) sequences in 3 samples which were already positive for new CPV-2a, with 99% sequence homology to other FPV sequences present in GenBank. CONCLUSIONS: Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of partial CPV-VP-2 gene with viruses from China, India, Japan and Uruguay identifying a new variant, whereas the 3 FPV sequences showed immediate ancestral relationship with viruses from Portugal, South Africa and USA. Interesting observation was that CPV are clustering away from the commercial vaccine strains. In this work we provide a better understanding of CPV prevailing in Pakistan at molecular level. The detection of FPV could be a case of real co-infection or a case of dual presence, due to ingestion of contaminated food.

Feline panleukopaenia virus in captive non-domestic felids in South Africa.

An outbreak of feline panleukopaenia virus (FPLV) infection was diagnosed by pathology, electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in vaccinated captive-bred subadult cheetahs in South Africa. Subsequent to this disease outbreak, 12 cases of FPLV diagnosed on histology were confirmed by PCR in captive African black-footed cat, caracal, cheetah, lion, ocelot and serval. Phylogenetic analyses of the viral capsid protein gene on PCR-positive samples, vaccine and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reference strains identified a previously unknown strain of FPLV, present since at least 2006, that differs from both the inactivated and the modified live vaccine strains. A previously described South African strain from domestic cats and cheetahs was identified in a serval. Surveys of FPLV strains in South African felids are needed to determine the geographical and host species distribution of this virus. Since non-domestic species may be reservoirs of parvoviruses, and since these viruses readily change host specificity, the risks of FPLV transmission between captive-bred and free-ranging carnivores and domestic cats and dogs warrant further research.

Achados patológicos e imuno-histoquímicos em felinos domésticos com panleucopenia felina / Pathologic and immunohistochemical findings of domestic cats with feline panleukopenia

A panleucopenia felina é uma importante doença infectocontagiosa de felinos domésticos, principalmente em animais com menos de um ano de idade. Este trabalho descreve os achados clinicopatológicos e o diagnóstico imuno-histoquímico de 33 casos de panleucopenia felina. Os principais sinais clínicos relatados foram vômito, diarreia e anorexia. As alterações mais frequentes na necropsia foram mucosa intestinal avermelhada (16/33), evidenciação das placas de Peyer (14/33) e conteúdo intestinal liquefeito (7/33). Os achados histológicos mais frequentes no intestino foram necrose (33/33) e infiltrado inflamatório linfo-histiocitário na mucosa (31/33), fusão (27/33) e atrofia de vilosidades (26/33). Em órgãos hematopoiéticos as alterações se caracterizavam principalmente por necrose e rarefação celular. Obteve-se resultado imuno-histoquímico positivo para parvovírus em 84,85% dos casos analisados. O intestino delgado foi o melhor órgão para detecção viral, com imunomarcação em 84,85%. Dentre os órgãos linfoides, o baço apresentou o melhor resultado, com 47,37% dos cortes analisados positivos. A pesquisa revelou importantes lesões no intestino delgado e em órgãos linfoides e a técnica da imuno-histoquímica demonstrou-se eficiente na detecção do parvovírus...

Feline panleukopenia is an important infectocontagious disease of domestic feline, especially in animals under 1 year. This paper describes the clinical-pathological findings and the immunohistochemical diagnosis of 33 cases of feline panleukopenia. The most important clinical signs were vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. The main gross findings observed were reddening of intestinal mucosa (16/33), evidentiation of Peyer patches (14/33), and liquefied intestinal content (7/33). The most consistent histological findings were necrosis (33/33) and lymphohistiocytic inflammatory infiltrate in the intestinal mucosa (31/33), villus fusion (27/33) and villus atrophy (26/33). In the hematopoietic tissues, the findings were characterized mainly by necrosis and tissue depletion. Parvovirus positive immunohistochemichal results were obtained in 84.85% of the cases analyzed. The best organ for viral detection was the intestine, with 84.85% of labeling in the immunohistochemichal technique. The spleen showed the best result among lymphoid organs, with 47.37% of the sections positive. This study presents most important lesions in the small intestine and in lymphoid organs and the immunohistochemistry proved good results in the detection of parvovirus...

Feline parvovirus infection and associated diseases.

Feline panleukopenia, caused by the single-stranded DNA virus feline parvovirus (FPV), is a highly contagious and often lethal disease of cats and other Felidae. FPV, but also canine parvovirus (CPV) can be isolated from both healthy and diseased cats. In Germany, CPV was detected in only approximately 10% of feline samples, but in Southeast Asia, reports estimated that up to approximately 80% of diseased cats were infected with CPV. Infection spreads rapidly, especially in cells with high mitotic activity, such as bone marrow, lymphoid tissue and intestinal crypt cells. Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea, neutropenia and lymphopenia are common in clinically affected cases. In utero or neonatal infection can result in cerebellar hypoplasia. Depending on the severity of clinical signs, mortality ranges from 25 to 100%. Effective vaccination and thorough disinfection are of the utmost importance in the prevention of disease transmission in multi-cat households and animal shelters. If clinical signs develop, supportive treatment should be commenced. The efficacy of feline recombinant interferon and FPV antibodies has not been clearly demonstrated. Commercially available vaccines should induce protective immunity when administered according to current guidelines. Recent studies suggest that in some kittens, maternally derived antibodies (MDA) can persist for much longer than has been previously recognised. FPV serum antibody tests are available, but protection status needs to be interpreted with caution in kittens with MDA and a negative titre in adult cats does not necessarily denote lack of protection.

Evaluation of an in-house dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies against feline panleukopenia virus.

Measuring antibody titres to determine a cat's immunity to core diseases instead of just administering annual vaccinations has not been established in Germany so far. An in-house test kit for the detection of antibodies against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus-- the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck--is now available in several European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck to determine antibodies by comparing it to a gold standard. The test is aimed for use in practice to assist decision-making when performing an individual health assessment to see whether a cat is potentially unprotected against FPV and requires FPV vaccination. Sera from 347 cats were included in the study. For antibody detection, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) was performed as gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck were determined for three different HI titre cut-off points (1:20, 1:40, 1:80). In comparison to the HI, the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck showed a sensitivity of 79%, 83% and 87%, and a specificity of 89%, 86% and 81%, respectively. Specificity of the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck, which was considered the most important parameter, was acceptable in comparison to HI. Especially when considering an antibody titre of 1:20 sufficient for protection (eg, in an adult animal), the ImmunoComb Feline VacciCheck can be recommended for use in veterinary practice.

Fast parallel detection of feline panleukopenia virus DNA by multi-channel microchip electrophoresis with programmed step electric field strength.

A multi-channel microchip electrophoresis using a programmed step electric field strength (PSEFS) method was investigated for fast parallel detection of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) DNA. An expanded laser beam, a 10× objective lens, and a charge-coupled device camera were used to simultaneously detect the separations in three parallel channels using laser-induced fluorescence detection. The parallel separations of a 100-bp DNA ladder were demonstrated on the system using a sieving gel matrix of 0.5% poly(ethylene oxide) (M(r) = 8 000 000) in the individual channels. In addition, the PSEFS method was also applied for faster DNA separation without loss of resolving power. A DNA size marker, FPV DNA sample, and a negative control were simultaneously analyzed with single-run and one-step detection. The FPV DNA was clearly distinguished within 30 s, which was more than 100 times faster than with conventional slab gel electrophoresis. The proposed multi-channel microchip electrophoresis with PSEFS was demonstrated to be a simple and powerful diagnostic method to analyze multiple disease-related DNA fragments in parallel with high speed, throughput, and accuracy.

On-line capillary electrophoresis for enhanced detection sensitivity of feline panleukopenia virus.

A rapid on-line capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for highly sensitive detection of DNA molecules with specific lengths was developed based on the combination of base stacking (BS) and programmed field strength gradients (PFSG). The BS method has been performed for on-column concentration to improve detection sensitivity without any modification of the CE system. PFSG increased the electrophoretic velocity of DNA molecules, which effectively decreased analysis time. Using the BS and PFSG combination, the amplified PCR product (340-bp DNA) of cats infected with feline panleukopenia virus was detected within 6.5min. Detection sensitivity (∼10-fold) was enhanced compared to conventional CE analysis. The combined on-line CE/BS-PFSG methodology could be an effectively rapid analysis technique for the highly sensitive detection of disease-related specific DNA molecules.

Detection of protective antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus-1, and feline calicivirus in shelter cats using a point-of-care ELISA.

Serum antibody titers are a useful measurement of protection against infection (feline panleukopenia virus [FPV]) or clinical disease (feline herpesvirus-1 [FHV] and feline calicivirus [FCV]), and their determination has been recommended as part of disease outbreak management in animal shelters. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and inter-observer and inter-assay agreement of two semi-quantitative point-of-care assays for the detection of protective antibody titers (PAT) against FPV, FHV and FCV in shelter cats. Low sensitivity for FPV antibodies (28%) rendered a canine point-of-care assay inappropriate for use in cats. The feline point-of-care assay also had low sensitivity (49%) and low negative predictive value (74%) for FPV PAT detection, but was highly accurate in the assessment of FHV and FCV PAT. Improvements in accuracy and repeatability of FPV PAT determination could make this tool a valuable component of a disease outbreak response in animal shelters.

Results of molecular diagnostic assays targeting feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus in adult cats administered modified live vaccines.

In this pilot study, 12 adult, gang-housed cats that were known to be previously exposed (n=12) to feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and/or vaccinated against (n=2) feline calicivirus (FCV) and FHV-1 were randomly assigned to one of two groups of six cats each. Nasal and pharyngeal samples were collected from each cat on days -7, -3, and 0 prior to vaccination and on days 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, and 28 after vaccination with an FHV-1, FCV, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine developed for intranasal (six cats) or parenteral (six cats) use. FHV-1 DNA was amplified from 1/12 cats (1/69 samples; 1.4%) prior to vaccination and 2/12 cats after vaccination (2/154 samples; 1.3%). FCV RNA was amplified from 2/12 cats (2/69 samples; 2.9%) prior to vaccination and 7/12 cats (12/154 samples; 7.8%) after vaccination. Positive molecular diagnostic assay results for FHV-1 and FCV were uncommon prior to or after vaccination in these cats.

Prognostic factors in cats with feline panleukopenia.

BACKGROUND: Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often lethal disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to identify prognostic factors for survival of cats with panleukopenia. ANIMALS: Between 1990 and 2007, 244 cats were diagnosed with panleukopenia in the Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, LMU University of Munich, Germany. Diagnosis was established by electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction of feces or blood, antigen ELISA of feces, pathognomonic histopathological lesions at necropsy, or some combination of these procedures. METHODS: Medical records of each cat were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Survival rate was 51.1%. No significant correlation was found between outcome and living conditions, age, vaccination status (unvaccinated versus one or more vaccines administered), or severity of clinical signs. However, of the vaccinated cats, none had received a vaccine later than 12 weeks of age as a kitten. Nonsurvivors had significantly lower leukocyte and thrombocyte counts at presentation compared with survivors. The relative risk of death for patients with <1,000/µL leukocytes was 1.77 times as high as in patients with a leukocyte count of 1,000-2,500/µL (P=.038), and 1.85 times as high as in patients with >2,500/µL leukocytes (P=.001). The likelihood of a fatal outcome was higher when serum albumin concentration was <30 g/L or serum potassium concentration <4 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Vaccination strategies that do not include vaccination of kittens beyond 12 weeks of age may not be adequate to prevent panleukopenia. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypokalemia are negative prognostic factors in cats with panleukopenia.

Feline panleukopenia. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management.

OVERVIEW: Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infects all felids as well as raccoons, mink and foxes. This pathogen may survive in the environment for several months and is highly resistant to some disinfectants. INFECTION: Transmission occurs via the faecal-oral route. Indirect contact is the most common route of infection, and FPV may be carried by fomites (shoes, clothing), which means indoor cats are also at risk. Intrauterine virus transmission and infection of neonates can occur. DISEASE SIGNS: Cats of all ages may be affected by FPV, but kittens are most susceptible. Mortality rates are high - over 90% in kittens. Signs of disease include diarrhoea, lymphopenia and neutropenia, followed by thrombocytopenia and anaemia, immunosuppression (transient in adult cats), cerebellar ataxia (in kittens only) and abortion. DIAGNOSIS: Feline panleukopenia virus antigen is detected in faeces using commercially available test kits. Specialised laboratories carry out PCR testing on whole blood or faeces. Serological tests are not recommended, as they do not distinguish between infection and vaccination. DISEASE MANAGEMENT: Supportive therapy and good nursing significantly decrease mortality rates. In cases of enteritis, parenteral administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic is recommended. Disinfectants containing sodium hypochlorite (bleach), peracetic acid, formaldehyde or sodium hydroxide are effective. VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS: All cats - including indoor cats - should be vaccinated. Two injections, at 8-9 weeks of age and 3-4 weeks later, are recommended, and a first booster 1 year later. A third vaccination at 16-20 weeks of age is recommended for kittens from environments with a high infection pressure (cat shelters) or from queens with high vaccine-induced antibody levels (breeding catteries). Subsequent booster vaccinations should be administered at intervals of 3 years or more. Modified-live virus vaccines should not be used in pregnant queens or in kittens less than 4 weeks of age.