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Feline Infectious Enteritis Feline infectious enteritis, or panleukopenia, is caused by a parvovirus. Transmission from faeces to mouth is the most likely route. It has the potential to cause significant disease in unprotected cats of all ages. Kittens and young cats frequently present with fever, acute onset vomiting and dehydration. Liquid diarrhea may not occur initially. The abdomen may be painful. Profound fluid loss may result in death. Kittens infected in the uterus prior to birth may abort or, if they survive, may have problems coordinating movement and a wide based stance. The disease is most prevalent in cats less than 1 year of age, where fatalities may reach 50 to 90%. Routine vaccination has made FIE less prevalent than in the past; it is usually found in unvaccinated cats living in conditions of stress or overcrowding, such as animal shelters. Kittens and young cats presented with fever and vomiting should be suspected. Kittens suspected of having infectious enteritis should be tested for FeLV and FIV. The stool should be examined for parasites because heavy parasitism may worsen the prognosis. Because the history, clinical signs, and blood haematology tests are very suggestive of FIE, more elaborate testing, is rarely necessary. Treatment is supportive to maintain hydration and nutrition and as such will probably involve hospitalisation and intravenous fluids. Antibiotics to prevent secondary infection should be given. History of recent vaccination in the young kitten does not eliminate the possibility of infectious enteritis because maternal antibodies may interfere with early vaccination efforts. With appropriate supportive care, most kittens and cats can survive infectious enteritis. Complications that could worsen the prognosis do occasionally occur. |
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