Dear Dr. Robin: I share my house with several cats, and they all enjoy a strictly indoor lifestyle. Recently a friend’s cat died. The cat started vomiting one day, went to the veterinarian the next and by the third day she had died. Her veterinarian told her the cat died of distemper. I thought distemper wasn’t around any more. My cats live inside all the time, so I don’t vaccinate them. Are they at risk?
– L.S., via e-mail
A: The term “distemper complex” is applied to a triad of feline diseases that cause severe illness and can lead to death. The distemper complex is made up of feline rhinotracheitis virus, calici virus and panleukopenia virus. The last of these – panleukopenia – is what we traditionally call “feline distemper.”
Panleukopenia virus is a highly infectious disease of cats. It is still “out there,” posing a threat primarily to kittens, young cats and unvaccinated or immune-compromised older adults. It is fairly typical to have a periodic, seasonal upswing in cases of panleukopenia, generally during the summer. Occasionally reports will appear in the newspaper of humane societies and shelters not adopting out cats due to a distemper outbreak.
The cats at greatest risk for developing panleukopenia are cats in a shelter setting. Being in a shelter is extremely stressful, and suppression of immune-system function is common. This past summer (2005), shelters in the Front Range area experienced a dramatic increase in the number of infected cats. Preventing outbreaks in a shelter setting is an ongoing challenge.
Panleukopenia causes a variety of rapid-onset symptoms including depression, vomiting and diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration. The term “panleukopenia,” literally translated, means low numbers of all types of white blood cells. The white blood cells are what protect the body against infectious organisms. If there are too few white blood cells, the body cannot fight off infection, so the virus can leave the body open to invasion by secondary bugs. Mortality is exceptionally high in susceptible cats, although some adult cats may show no signs of disease.
Transmission of panleukopenia occurs via contact with blood, urine, feces, nasal secretions and even the fleas of infected cats. The virus is very stable in the environment and resists most disinfectants. An infected area can remain contaminated for years. Unfortunately, this means indoor cats still can be exposed by the virus being unwittingly carried into the environment on clothes or shoes. Treatment is generally aggressive supportive care, and the prognosis is guarded for recovery.
Vaccination offers the safest preventative. Limiting outdoor roaming and cat-cat contact also can reduce the risks.
Dr. Robin Downing will respond to your questions in her weekly column, but cannot answer individually. Send questions to: Robin Downing, DVM, P.O. Box 460, Windsor, CO 80550 or drrobin@windsorvet.com.
