Other names for the disease :
Feline Parvo virus- Feline Viral Enteritis
A highly infectious wide spread disease,with a high morbidity and fatality rates
The disease spreads mainly via feces of diseased cats ,also via other body secretions
And healthy cats are infected through ingestion of contaminated food with virus
The disease affects all the feline family including cats,lions.leopards,tigers and wild cats
also it may affect raccoons and foxes
First signs of the disease appears after 5 to 15 days post exposure to the infection
the virus enters the mouth where it is targeted to mouth tissue and lymph nodes and it replicates there
then a stage of viral transmission through blood(Viremia) occures which is often accompanied by an elevation of body temperature
then finally the virus reaches the linning of the intestines where it invades the cells of the intestinal crypts
Then the disease appears with one of the following forms:
1- Sudden death/Dying kitten
usually occures to kittens,sometimes adults cats also
Occures mainly in shelters and catteries and petshops where high animal population is.
Which is a sitiuation that differs from the nature of cats where they could stay scattered individually
2-Subclinical infection
Most cases with no signs of ailments but the have the disease within their bodies
Only under stress or weakened immunity like after changing home place or owners
or suddden change in diet specially after disappearance of maternal drived immunity in kittens by the 16 weeks in average.
3-the classical feline enteritis
where an acute form of intestinal inflamation
Accompanied by a history of being well early this day or the day before
and a sudden appearance of the signs
Sometimes this form is confused with poisoning due to the sudden onset of the signs
signs:
Either hyperthermia or even hypothermia
Extreme depression,off food ,dehydration and vomiting
The cat may seeks for cool isolated places and are attracted to water but won't DRINK
Diarrhea the advanced to a profuse watery diarrhea sometimes bloody.
Often this case is seen in newly bought kittens
and the owners could observe that her litter-mates with the primary owner are doing great
but the stress of the the new home and change in diet is the cause for appearance of the disease in this weak friend.
The disease is very dangerous amongest all cats diseases
It is highly contagious and a life threatening condition on direct or indirect contact with sick cats and kittens
We should seek a veterinarians help urgently
to offer the medical services the cat needs and compating dehydration and secondary bacterial infection.
