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Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia)
Animal Care Services
What
is Feline Panleukopenia (FP)?
What Does it do?
How can you
tell if a cat has FP?
How is FP treated?
What
about prevention and protection?
A
note on your pet's...general good health
What
is Feline Panleukopenia (FP)?
Over the years feline
panleukopenia (FP) has been known by a variety of names;
feline distemper, infectious enteritis, cat fever, cat
typhoid, and several others.
FP is a highly contagious virus disease that occurs
wherever there are cats. Cats at any age may be
stricken. Young kittens, sick cats, and indoor cats that
have not been given boosters recently are most
susceptible; older cats are more likely to have acquired
an immunity and, therefore, are infected less
frequently.
Kittens less than 16 weeks of age may die at a rate of
about 75%, and others at a rate of 50%.
Urban areas are most likely to see outbreaks of FP
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 FP today.
Dogs are not susceptible to feline panleukopenia. Canine
distemper is a different disease caused by another
virus. Neither disease is transmissible to man.
What
Does it do?
The FP virus is passed from
cat to cat by direct contact. Infection occurs when
contact is made with the blood, urine, fecal material,
nasal secretions, and even fleas of infected cats. In
most cases, recovered cats do not transmit the
infection.
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 may
harbor and transmit the virus.
The FP 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.
FP 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.
How
can you tell if a cat has FP? 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.
FP is so prevalent and the signs so varied that any sick
cat should be taken to a veterinarian for a definite
diagnosis.
How
is FP treated? The prognosis for kittens
less than 8 weeks old 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. If the cat survives for 48
hours, its chances for recovery are much better.
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" 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.
What
about prevention and protection? FP 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. The immunity diminishes
rapidly and is not considered effective after 12 weeks
of age.
Vaccines offer the safest protection. Most vaccines are
made from live viruses treated to destroy their ability
to cause disease. 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. Most young kittens
receive their first vaccination between 6 and 12 weeks
of age, or as soon as they are taken from their mother.
Vaccination must be repeated annually as a booster to
maintain effective immunity.
Specific vaccination schedules vary depending on many
factors, such as the disease incidence in the area, age
and health of the cat, etc.
The pet owner should consult a veterinarian for advice
on the correct schedule for each cat.
A
note on your pet's...general good health Only a healthy
pet is a happy companion. To assure your pet's daily
well-being requires regular care and close attention to
any hint of ill health. The American Veterinary Medical
Association therefore suggests that you consult your
veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following
signs:
-
Abnormal behavior, sudden
viciousness, or lethargy
-
Abnormal discharges from the nose,
eyes, or other body openings
-
Abnormal lumps, limping, or
difficulty getting up or lying down
-
Loss of appetite, marked weight
losses or gains, or excessive water consumption.
Difficult, abnormal, or uncontrolled waste
elimination
-
Excessive head shaking, scratching,
and licking or biting any part of the body
-
Dandruff, loss of hair, open sores,
and a ragged or dull coat. Foul breath or excessive
tarter deposits on teeth
Source: American Veterinary Medical
Association |
