Gastrointestinal Ultrasonographic Findings In Cats With Feline Panleukopenia Virus: A Case Series

Abstract

Background Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a very resistant and highly contagious virus that infects domestic cats and other felids. FPV is particularly widespread among sheltered cats, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, causing a severe gastroenteritis characterized by anorexia, lethargy, fever, dehydration, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and vomiting. No data is yet available on the ultrasonographic features of cats affected with FPV. This case series describes abdominal ultrasonographic findings in shelter cats with naturally occurring FPV and assesses if they are associated with clinical and laboratory findings. Cats affected by FPV were enrolled if an abdominal ultrasound was performed within 12 hours from diagnosis. Clinical and laboratory data as well as survival were collected from medical records. Ultrasonographic examinations were reviewed for gastrointestinal abnormalities and their associations with the above variables were explored. Results Twenty-one cats were included. Nine cats (43%) died and 12 (57%) recovered. Based on ultrasonography, duodenum and jejunum had thickening of the muscular layer in 42.8% and 57.1%, hyperechogenicity of the mucosa in 41.2% and 33.3%, respectively. Hyperechoic mucosal band paralleling the submucosa was observed only in the jejunum, in 33.3% of cats. Survival was positively associated with increased jejunal mucosal echogenicity ( P =0.003) and hyperechoic mucosal band ( P =0.003). Peritoneal free fluid was positively associated with vomiting ( P =0.002) and negatively associated with thrombocytopenia ( P =0.005). Conclusion This study provides sonographic features of naturally-occurring FPV cats, that, as expected, are compatible with gastroenteritis; frequent findings were diffuse small intestine muscular layer thickening, hyperechoic mucosal band paralleling the submucosa, and mucosal hyperechogenicity. At diagnosis, some sonographic features may be useful to assess the severity of the disease and survival.