Feline panleukopenia virus infection in imported cats

Feline panleukopenia virus infection in imported cats

The cases of feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) infection were diagnosed in three imported cats. All cats died within one week after mild emaciation, depression and anorexia. One cat showed yellowish watery diarrhea. At necropsy, all cats had segmental hemorrhage on the serosa and mucosa of the small intestine. Histopathologically, severe diffuse necro-hemorrhagic enteritis was observed in small intestine especially in jejunum and ileum. The crypts of Lieberkuhn were dilated and contained necrotic epithelia. Severely damaged epithelia of crypts were transformed into bizarre shapes. Multifocal lympholysis and lymphoid depletion were found in Peyer's patches and other lymphoid tissues. Direct fluorescent antibody (FA) test revealed the characteristic FPLV antigen in the cytoplasms of crypt epithelial cells. Based on the clinical signs, characteristic pathologic findings and FA test, these cases were diagnosed as FPLV infection. In our best knowledge, this study is the first case report for FPLV infection in imported cats in Korea.