A cat showing clinical signs of feline panleukopenia, substantiated by laboratory evidence
should be kept in isolation. Supportive therapy and good nursing care significantly decreases
mortality caused by FPV. Restoration of fluid and electrolyte and of the acid-base balance
preferably by intravenous drip is most important in symptomatic treatment.
As the gut barrier often is destroyed in FPV-infected cats, intestinal bacteria may invade the
blood stream. Bacteriaemia may ensue, facilitated by the existing neutropenia, leading to
sepsis in these immunocompromised patients. Prevention of sepsis is essential, and a broadspectrum
antibiotic with a proven efficacy against gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria is
recommended. Examples are amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or piperacillin in combination with
aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins or piperacillin/tazobactam. The potential
side effects of these drugs should be taken into consideration. Antibiotics should be
administered parenterally (preferentially intravenously).
Oral intake of water and food should only be restricted if vomiting persists and feeding should
be continued as long as possible, and restart as soon as possible. Beneficial effects of early
enteral nutrition have been reported in canine parvovirosis (Mohr et al., 2003). A highly
digestible diet is preferred, but if the cat does not accept it, any diet is better than no food
intake at all. If vomiting persists, anti-emetics should be considered. Vitamin supplements,
particularly of the B vitamin complex can be given to prevent development of thiamine
deficiency, which occurs infrequently.
Cats that develop hypoproteinaemia may require plasma or whole blood transfusions to
restore oncotic pressure. Plasma transfusion in combination with heparin may control
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), as it supplements anti-thrombin III and other
important plasma proteins. In cats that are anorexic or show severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea,
or in patients with persisting hypoproteinaemia, full or partial parenteral nutrition is required,
preferably via a central venous catheter in the jugular vein (Hartmann and Hein, 2002).
Anti-FPV serum can be used to prevent infection of susceptible animals following exposure.
The therapeutic efficacy of immune serum has been demonstrated in dogs (Meunier et al.,
1985; Macintire et al., 1994), and similar beneficial effects may be expected in cats.
Feline recombinant Interferon-omega is effective in the treatment of parvoviral enteritis in
dogs (Minagawa et al., 1999; Martin et al., 2002; de Mari et al., 2003) and also inhibits
replication of FPV in cell culture (Mochizuki et al., 1994). So far no data are available on the
efficacy of this cytokine in FPV-infected cats, but it is expected to perform well in the
homologous host.
Due to the extreme physicochemical stability of FPV, contaminated cages, litter trays, food
dishes, water bowls, shoes and clothing can play an important role in transmission, and
attention to hygiene is of utmost importance. The virus is resistant to many common
disinfectants, but can be inactivated by products that contain peracetic acid, formaldehyde,
sodium hypochlorite, or sodium hydroxide (Köhler 2006). Sodium hypochlorite (household
bleach, 1:30 dilution) can be used on smooth hard surfaces like litter trays that tolerate this
disinfectant, while formaldehyde gas can be used for room disinfection. Susceptible kittens
and unvaccinated older animals should not be in contact with other cats until they are properly
immunized. Once a disease outbreak occurs, passive immunization can be used to protect
susceptible cats (young kittens with an incomplete vaccination history, colostrum-deprived
kittens or unvaccinated cats). Anti-FPV serum can be given subcutaneously or
intraperitoneally and may protect for 2-4 weeks (Greene and Addie, 2005). If a commercial
product of equine origin is used, repeated administration is not recommended as this may lead
to anaphylactic reactions (Hartmann and Hein, 2002). Since the administered
immunoglobulins will bind to parvoviral epitopes, these animals should not be vaccinated
within the first three weeks after passive immunisation.