Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Deadly feline parvovirus outbreak in adult unvaccinated cats
By Maria Irene Pacini et al.·Published in Pathogens·2023·Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Feline Parvovirus Lethal Outbreak in a Group of Adult Cohabiting Domestic Cats
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 12 unvaccinated domestic cats experienced a deadly outbreak of feline panleukopenia, a highly contagious virus that can be fatal, especially in unvaccinated cats. Within a short time, 3 of the cats showed severe symptoms and sadly died. The outbreak was quickly contained by implementing strict biosecurity measures and vaccinating the remaining cats, which helped stop the spread of the virus. This case highlights the importance of vaccination and prompt action in preventing serious illness in cats.
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Abstract
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in cats. The virus, known as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), primarily affects kittens and unvaccinated cats. It is transmitted through contact with infected cats or their bodily fluids, as well as contaminated objects and environments. The diagnosis of FPV infection can be confirmed through a combination of clinical signs, blood tests, and fecal testing. Prevention through vaccination is recommended for all cats. This case report describes an outbreak of feline panleukopenia in a group of unvaccinated domestic cats that resulted in acute mortality. The lesions were evaluated using histopathology, and the specific viral strain was characterized using molecular techniques. The clinical course of the outbreak was peracute, with a hemorrhagic pattern and 100% of lethality. The observed clinical-pathological pattern was unusual; nevertheless, molecular studies did not highlight peculiar genomic features of the parvovirus isolate. The outbreak affected 3 out of 12 cats in a very short time. However, the prompt application of biosecurity measures and vaccination resulted in an effective interruption of virus spread. In conclusion, we could assume that the virus found the ideal conditions to infect and replicate at high titers, resulting in a particularly aggressive outbreak.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060822