Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Which parvovirus causes feline panleukopenia in Egyptian cats
By Safwat, Mahmoud S et al.·Published in Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases·2024·Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Molecular typing of Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 in Egyptian cats diagnosed with feline panleukopenia.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 43 cats in Egypt with severe vomiting and diarrhea were diagnosed with feline panleukopenia (FPL), a serious viral infection. Testing showed that all the cats had the feline parvovirus (FPV), which is the main cause of FPL, and the disease was most common in the winter months. Unfortunately, the case-fatality rate was high, with many cats passing away within two days of showing symptoms. This study highlights the importance of vaccination and awareness of FPL, especially during the colder seasons.
People also search for: cat vomiting diarrhea treatment · feline panleukopenia symptoms · cat parvovirus vaccination importance
Abstract
Feline panleukopenia (FPL) in cats is caused by either feline parvovirus (FPV) or canine parvovirus (CPV-2), which belong to the same species "Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1". While FPV is widely recognized as the principal cause of FPL, CPV-2 has been detected at a higher rate than FPV in sick cats in a recent Egyptian study. To assess this conflict, the present study aimed to determine which Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 is commonly associated with FPL in Egyptian cats. From Dec-2022 to Jan-2024, 43 cats presenting with acute gastroenteritis and testing positive for FPL using in-clinic assay, SNAP® parvo, were tested for Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 DNA using conventional PCR. Typing of Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 was conducted by partial VP2 gene sequencing. Additional epidemiological aspects of the disease were investigated, including seasonal pattern, case-fatality rate, median survival time to death, and the association between FPL outcomes and selected factors like age, sex, vaccination status, and clinical signs (vomiting and diarrhea). All cats tested positive for Protoparvovirus carnivoran 1 DNA and FPV was detected in all cats with strong PCR amplicons (n=39). The following seasonal pattern was recorded: cases emerging in autumn, peaking during winter, declining in spring, and disappearing in summer. The case-fatality rate was 41.6 %, and the median time to death was two days. None of the studied factors affected FPL outcomes. In conclusion, FPL in Egyptian cat populations is primarily caused by FPV, not CPV-2, and is particularly prevalent in winter.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39520796/