Contents of Clinical illness

Lecture Notes

The virus causes two distinct forms of illness. Both forms severely affect kittens; adult cats rarely show sign of illness.

In classic panleukopenia, the virus attacks white blood cells and the intestinal tract. We will see Severe abdominal pain, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Fever, and Extreme dehydration with this form. The death rate among kittens is extremely high.

The virus can also manifest itself in something called cerebellar hypoplasia, which affects kittens who are infected very early in life or in the mother's uterus.

In these kittens, the virus causes malformation of the cerebellum, the part o the brain responsible for coordination. Kittens can recover but will remain uncoordinated throughout life.