Feline parvovirus (panleucopenia)

Quantitative detection of feline parvovirus (FPV) enabling a reliable diagnosis of feline panleucopenia, even if the animal has recently been vaccinated.

Reasons for testing

• Diagnostics of panleucopenia in an animal with clinical signs (acute or chronic digestive forms, sudden death, cerebellar ataxia...)
• Assessment of the epidemiological risk (to reveal viral spread in a group)
• Assessment of the environmental contamination and sanitizing monitoring in an infected environment

Test characteristics

• Real-time PCR
• Limit of detection
• Quantitative analysis

Diagnostic samples

• Rectal swab (even post mortem, dry swab without preservative medium)
• CSF, nervous tissue (neurological forms in kittens)
• Environmental swab

Result interpretation

Some cats (especially kittens and cats from catteries) are healthy carriers of parvovirus with varying quantities. The only presence of virus, either wild or vaccine strain, is not sufficient to give a reliable diagnostics: quantification of the excreted viral load is necessary. Quantitative results must be interpreted in a clinical and epidemiological context.

• Positive result :
  • Low or very low viral load : healthy carrier or vaccine trace. Panleucopenia can be excluded.
  • High or very high viral load : compatible with panleucopenia.
  • Medium viral load : subacute or chronic forms of panleucopenia (evolution for more than 10-15 days) or healthy carrier in a highly contaminated environment (shelters). These loads are seldom observed in asymptomatic animals which have recently been vaccinated.
• Negative result : absence of this virus or quantity lower than the limit of detection. Panleucopenia can be excluded, whatever the clinical form and whatever the duration of clinical signs.

Do not hesitate to contact us for sample collecting advice or help in interpreting the results.