| Overview of disease Feline panleukopenia, also called feline parvovirus, causes severe bowel inflammation and suppression of white blood cells. It is one of the greatest infectious disease threats to any rescue facility and can have a very high death rate, especially in unvaccinated kittens. The virus is closely related to canine parvovirus. It is not zoonotic and does not infect humans. Some canine parvovirus variants can infect cats, so contaminated environments, dogs, footwear, clothing, bowls, bedding and equipment can act as indirect sources of infection. |
| Transmission Direct or indirect contact with contaminated faeces, food dishes, bedding, footwear, clothing, hands, equipment, or the environment. Fleas may also mechanically spread contamination. Infection can pass from queen to kittens across the placenta. |
| Contagious nature Highly contagious |
| Incubation period Usually 2–7 days; sometimes quoted up to 10 days. |
| Signs of infection Fever, depression, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, abdominal pain, weight loss, and sudden deterioration. Occasionally kittens may be found dead with few or no previous signs. |
| Carrier status Recovered cats may continue to shed virus for several weeks after infection. |
| Diagnosis Veterinary examination, blood test, and faecal testing. Some rapid faecal parvovirus tests may be used, but interpretation should be by a vet. |
| Treatment Requires urgent veterinary treatment. Care is mainly intensive supportive treatment: isolation, IV fluids, antiemetics, nutritional support, broad-spectrum antibiotics where indicated, warming, and blood or plasma transfusion in selected severe cases. Cross-matching is required before whole blood transfusion. |
| Prognosis Guarded, especially in young, unvaccinated kittens. Mortality can be high despite treatment, but early intensive veterinary care improves survival. |
| Prevention Vaccination against feline panleukopenia / feline parvovirus, strict isolation of suspected cases, quarantine of exposed cats, hand hygiene, dedicated equipment, and use of proven parvocidal disinfectants after thorough cleaning. |
| Homing Good if fully recovered and outside the infectious risk period, subject to veterinary advice. |
| Husbandry Isolation pens, strict barrier nursing, dedicated clothing and equipment, and careful movement control between pens. |
| Survival in the environment Parvoviruses are very long-lived in the environment and may remain infectious for months; under favourable conditions they may persist for up to a year. Complete eradication from a contaminated environment can be difficult. |
| Zoonosis — infectious to people No |
| Disinfectant susceptibility Use a proven parvocidal disinfectant after thorough cleaning. Suitable agents include sodium hypochlorite bleach, potassium peroxymonosulfate products such as Virkon, accelerated hydrogen peroxide products, and other products specifically tested against parvovirus. Bleach 5% diluted 1:32 is approximately 32 ml bleach per litre of water. Always follow the product label for dilution, contact time, surface safety, and animal safety. |
Antimicrobial Spectrum of Disinfectants
Sources: ABCD Guidelines for Feline Panleukopenia; MSD Veterinary Manual
ABCD Guidelines for Feline Panleukopenia – Latest revision
MSD Veterinary Manual: Feline Panleukopenia
