Feline Panleukopenia
Feline Panleukopenia
Disease Overview
Panleukopenia (sometimes called feline distemper) is a highly contagious, severe infection that causes gastrointestinal, immune system, and nervous system disease. “Panleukopenia” means a decrease in the number of white blood cells and is caused by a virus (feline parvovirus) that is very similar to the virus that causes parvovirus in dogs.
Merck Animal Health Solutions
For Feline Panleukopenia
A quality core vaccine shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy cats 9 weeks of age or older against feline rhinotracheitis, calici, and panleukopenia viruses.
Shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy cats 9 weeks of age or older against feline rhinotracheitis, calici, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia viruses, and the only combination vaccine providing a 2-year duration of immunity against feline leukemia virus.
Shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy cats 9 weeks of age or older against feline rhinotracheitis, calici, and panleukopenia viruses, as well as feline Chlamydophila.
A quality core vaccine shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy cats 9 weeks of age or older against feline rhinotracheitis, calici, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia viruses, as well as feline Chlamydophila. The duration of immunity against feline leukemia virus is at least 2 years.
The only USDA-approved feline core vaccine with a duration of immunity of at least 3 years. Shown to be effective for vaccination of healthy cats 8 weeks of age or older against feline rhinotracheitis, calici, and panleukopenia viruses.
Transmission
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) can survive at room temperature for up to 1 year and is persistent in the environment.24 It can be transmitted directly between cats and through contact with fomites, such as shared food and water bowls, grooming items, etc. Infected pregnant queens can also pass FPV to their kittens. Humans can transmit FPV to cats through contact with hands, clothing, or shoes.
Clinical Signs
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Disinterest in food/water
- Depression
- Low white blood cell count
- Seizures
Risk Factors
- Boards often or comes from a shelter environment
- Lives in a multiple cat household
- Is a rescue cat or from a feral cat population
- Virtually all susceptible cats are exposed and infected within the first year of life24
- Indoor/outdoor cats are both at risk
References:
24. Greene CE, Addie DD. Feline parvovirus infections. In: Greene CE, ed. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier; 2006:78.