Feline panleukopenia

The panleukopenia is a frequently fatal, virus-induced cat scratch disease. It is also known as feline distemper, cat distemper, infectious enteritis of cats Agranulomatose, Aleukozytose and Katzenpest. Pathogen is a virus of the genus Parvovirus (from Latin parvus - small). The disease is closely related to the parvo the dog and infectious panleukopenia the mustelids. In humans, the related but much less dangerous parvovirus B19 can cause diseases.

Pathogen

Cause of the disease is a virus of the genus Parvovirus, Feline panleukopenia the virus with a size of about 18 to 26 nanometers in diameter. The encrypted in the viral genetic information is identical to 99 % with those of canine parvovirus. Replication of the virus takes place in the nucleus of the affected cell and this requires features that are present only during cell division. The pathogen is highly resistant to environmental influences. At room temperature, it remains infectious for one year, the majority of commercially available disinfectants are not able to inactivate it. The effective against the virus substances include sodium hypochlorite, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde.

Occurrence

The pathogen occurs worldwide and is endemic in all cat populations. The disease can produce all kinds of the cat family ( Felidae ) and beyond infest some small bears ( Raccoon, South American Coati ) Katzenfrette and mink.

The disease mainly not yet immunocompetent young animals are affected. In cats it is most common between the ages of three to five months.

Pathogenesis

The pathogen enters through contact with infectious material (feces, nasal secretions, urine) through the nasal and oral mucosa in the body. The incubation period is 2 to 10 days. Since the virus needs to multiply cells with high division rate, it affects especially the continually strong regenerating cells of the intestinal epithelium, bone marrow and lymphatic system.

Fetuses can be infected via the placenta in the womb.

Symptoms

The symptoms can vary greatly pronounced. Some animals may even die without premonitory signs ( peracute course ).

According to the affected organ systems is mainly dominated by symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system. In addition to the emergence of strong, often bloody diarrhea, there is a strong decrease in white blood cells ( leukopenia ) and thus a reduction in the defense capability of the diseased organism, which is therefore particularly susceptible to secondary bacterial infections.

In addition to these symptoms, the affected animals often show fatigue, loss of appetite, dehydration, fever, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and vomiting. With the large amounts of feces highly infectious pathogens are excreted material.

Prenatal and perinatal infections lead to cerebellar ataxia.

Diagnosis

A presumptive diagnosis deliver missing vaccination, age, clinical symptoms, the characteristic curve and a severe leukopenia. A definite diagnosis can be made only by laboratory diagnosis.

An important diagnostic and prognostic criterion is the number of leukocytes that sink in typical courses to around 2,000 to 4,000 per microliter. If the value is less than 1,500, there is a poor prognosis.

The virus can be detected by electron microscopy in feces. There are also rapid tests to detect virus in the feces. In unvaccinated cats antibody concentrations in the blood can also be helpful.

Histopathological examinations of the small intestine, lung, kidney, lymph nodes and spleen, and cerebellum of aborted fetuses can bring clarification. Intranuclear ( located in the nucleus ) inclusion bodies of type B in intestinal epithelial cells are typical. Other symptoms are necrosis of the intestine crypts, loss of villi, and the lamina propria. A cerebellar hypoplasia is typical of infected fetuses. The fluorescence detection of antibodies in the small intestine and spleen samples is also certain evidence.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of foreign body in the intestine, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, Feline coronavirus infection ( FECV ), feline leukemia, feline herpes virus infection, Feline calicivirus infection and immunodeficiency syndrome of cats are considered.

Treatment

The treatment of diseased animals is aimed first of all to stabilize the patient. To this end, infusions are usually necessary in order to prevent dehydration (dehydration ) and to ensure optimum nutrition. In order to avoid bacterial infections, it requires the administration of antibiotics. The virus itself can be controlled by the application of interferons and serum antibodies. For intensive treatment, most animals can save.

Another important aspect of the disease is the adherence to strict hygiene measures to prevent the further spread of the pathogen. Convalescent cats can excrete up to six weeks the virus.

Prophylaxis

The most effective measure against the disease exists in a prophylactic vaccination, which was first performed at the age of eight weeks and should be refreshed after a month. As a result Impfintervalle of one to three years are recommended. Only means of vaccination can a cat safely to avoid the infection.

Since regularly vaccinated mother cats kittens often have a lot of maternal antibodies, since July 2006, a third booster shot in the fourth month of life is recommended. Maternal antibodies can stay up to get an age of 20 weeks, and apparently, even small amounts of these antibodies from to prevent adequate immunization. However, there are regarding the protective effect of the injections for primary vaccination also differences between the vaccines from different manufacturers. For a better assessment of the effectiveness of the first vaccination, a previous determination of the antibody titer in the mother cat or the maternal antibodies in puppies is recommended.

After a vaccine is administered after one year, so that the basic immunization is complete, and only then can be extended to an interval of three years. However, it is still recommended for kennels and animal shelters to be carried out at the booster vaccination annually. Here, the risk of infection may be higher, since stress situations often occur in breeding sites, repeatedly added new entries and visitors can bring parvoviruses.

For live vaccines, the protection begins two weeks after the primary immunization. Live vaccines should not be used in pregnant cats or kittens under four weeks. It has to be resorted to inactivated vaccines.