Feline panleukopenia
Cat distemper
Feline Parvo virus infection

It is a contagious disease of cats caused by Parvo virus characterized by leucopenia, vomiting, dirrhhea and dehydration.


Etiology
Parvo virus of family Parvoviridae.
    The is resietant to alcohol and chloroform.
    The virus requires activily dividing cells to complete its replication cycle.


Distribution
It is a disease of world wide distribution


Susceptability
Young kittens of 2-4 monthes age are more susceptible.


Sources of infection
Secretions and excretion of diseased cats.



Transmission
The infection occurs through
    Direct contact
    Flies may play role in transmission.



Pathogenesis
After oral infection viremia occurs, then virus invades the rapidly multiplying cells as cells of bone marrow and epithelial cells of ileum and jejunum causing destruction of these cells causing enteritis with vomiting and diarrhea with shortened blunt villi with poor absorption.
Depletion pf lymphoid tissue and drop in circulating white cells due to destruction of bone marrow and endotoxin absorption from the bowel.
The virus can infect the fetus and invade the brain and retinal cells of the eye causing cerebral hypoplasia with ataxia and retinal dysplasia.


Incubation period
Four to ten days.


Clinical signs
Fever, vomiting, bloody fetid diarrhea and dehydration.
Oral ulceration, purulent otitis and retinal dehydration.
Subnormal temperature then coma and death.


Postmortum lesions
The intestinal tract contains bloody fetid feces
Liquid bone marrow
Hypoplasia of cerebellum.


Diagnosis
Clinical signs and lesions

Laboratory diagnosis
    Virus isolation
    Serodiagnosis as SNT, CET and FAT
    Detection of internuclear inclusion bodies in lymph nodes and intestinal epithelium.
Blood film
    Leukopenia

Differential diagnosis
    Leukemia viral infection: It is a chronic enteritis and chronic panleukopenia and often anemia.
    Salmonellosis
    Toxoplasmosis.


Control
Treatment
    Antiemetics
    Control diarrhea
    Anti inflammatory
    Vitamin B and minerals.

Hygienic measures
Vaccination
    Inactivated vaccine
    Modified virus life vaccine