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As devoted cat parents, many of you may have heard of the recent outbreak of feline panleukopenia virus in Sydney.  This outbreak has sadly killed over 50 cats, mostly kittens from shelters who had not yet been vaccinated or were not fully vaccinated against the deadly virus.

What is feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)?

FPV, also known as feline enteritis, is a highly contagious and frequently lethal disease affecting all members of the cat family.  FPV was first discovered more than 100 years ago but due to the uptake of vaccinations, had virtually disappeared from Australia by the mid-1970’s.  The virus re-emerged and was responsible for a Melbourne disease outbreak in 2013-2015, affecting over 200 cats, and has subsequently been identified in the recent Sydney outbreak.

Disease in cats is caused by parvoviruses, small DNA viruses. The main one is feline panleukopenia virus but parvoviruses that infect dogs can also cause the disease in cats (Professor Vanessa Barrs, University of Sydney).

FPV is transmitted via the faecal-oral route and causes a systemic infection.  The gut is commonly affected resulting in enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal mucosa) and this can lead to severe diarrhoea.  Secondary complications can arise, including; secondary bacterial infections, sepsis, dehydration, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

What are the symptoms?

• fever
• lethargy
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• sudden death

Is my cat at risk?

If your kitty is up to date with vaccinations – do not fear!!  Research indicates that current vaccines should be effective against this nasty disease.  Vaccination is the most effective protection against the virus.  If possible, you should also keep your cat isolated from stray cats, or those with unknown vaccination history.

Can I Catch it?

No.  There is no reported risk of the disease being passed on to humans.

Diagnosis

FPV antigen can be detected in faeces or whole blood using specialised laboratory tests.   These tests are based on either enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), immunochromatographic or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

Treatment

Sadly, the mortality rate of this disease ranges from 25 to 100%.  If clinical signs develop, supportive treatment should be commenced immediately, which may include; hospitalisation for intravenous fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti-emetics and gastrointestinal protectants.  In severe cases, blood transfusions and other supportive measures may be required.

In WA we have been lucky so far as there have been no recently reported cases of FPV.  The current Sydney outbreak seems to have been caused by a lack of mass vaccination, especially in shelter-housed cats.  Effective vaccination and thorough disinfection are of the utmost importance in the prevention of disease transmission in multi-cat households and animal shelters.

The current Sydney outbreak is a reminder that maintaining immunity in populations of animals where effective vaccines are available is essential.  We can ensure this remains the case in WA by keeping all of our precious kitties up to date with vaccinations.

Vaccination 

Current World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines state that feline panleukopenia virus vaccination should be administered as part of the “core/recommended” vaccination series (along with feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline calicivirus).   Kitten vaccinations commence at 6-8 weeks old and vaccinations are repeated every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age or older.  Re-vaccination is then carried out at 6 months or one year of age, then every 3 years for FPV.

Vaccination protocols for other contagious diseases (feline herpesvirus type 1, feline calicivirus, feline leukamia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and Chlamydophila felis) will vary depending on the individual risk factor for your cat.

If you unsure as to what particular vaccinations your cat requires or whether they are up to date, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  To determine your cats risk it is important that you discuss your cat’s lifestyle with one of our vets so we can individualise their vaccine program.

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