Feline Parvo

There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus. They are euthanizing over 70 cats and
kittens at the shelter to try to stem the outbreak and then they will
attempt to sterilize the facility with bleach so it can reopen. I've
never heard of feline parvo and I do live in Polk county with 3 adopted
ferals.
Does anyone have any info or advice on this virus? I'll be calling the
vet on Monday but I'm worried now!
Deeply appreciate any help or advice.

"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

FPV is not a completely fatal disease. If the cats can be supported for 5-7
days after onset of the disease, the chances of recovery are usually good to
excellent. The only kittens we've lost to FPV were already in the terminal
stages of the disease. Even some kittens who are already in the terminal
stages have been saved with whole blood transfusions from cats with high
titers to FPV.



They are euthanizing over 70 cats and
kittens at the shelter to try to stem the outbreak

How incompetent/untrained/unqualified people like that are appointed and
placed in charge of shelters and the lives of hundreds of animals boggles
the mind - it must be nepotism. Shelter managers and directors should be
required by law to be certified in disease surveillance and prevention and
basic population medicine. Epidemics can be easily avoided by simply
isolating and testing *all* animals upon admission and limiting housing to
groups of no more than 4-6 animals.

The CITE Canine parvovirus antigen fecal immunoassay (Idexx Labs) although
its not licensed for feline parvovirus, it will nonetheless detect FPV
antigen in feline feces. This test makes it possible to isolate infected
cats and begin therapy *before* the kittens develop symptoms.


and then they will
attempt to sterilize the facility with bleach so it can reopen.

FVRCP vaccines for non-profit organizations cost not much more than
bleach -- including the needle and syringe! The virus is extremely stable
and can survive for years on contaminated surfaces. The virus is resistant
to most house disinfectants - except bleach.

In high-risk situations (such as your shelter's present situation), and
especially kittens who did not receive colostrum, the kittens can be
immunized with small doses of FPV antiserum from cats with high titers to
FPV. Antiserum confers protection until their immune system develops an
immunological response to the vaccine. However, just as maternal antibodies
interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, the immunity conferred by
antiserum can also interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, thus the
standard FPV vaccine protocol should be followed (series of 3 vaccinations
at 3-week intervals).


I've
never heard of feline parvo and I do live in Polk county with 3 adopted
ferals.
Does anyone have any info or advice on this virus?

http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_panleukopenia.htm


I'll be calling the
vet on Monday but I'm worried now!

Deeply appreciate any help or advice.

How old are your kittens? Have they completed the FPV vaccine series?Read
the above article and pay careful attention to the symptoms at the beginning
of the article.

Since your kittens came from a high-risk situation, I'd err on the side of
caution and ask your vet to run a blood test and a parvovirus antigen
fecal test. The hallmark of FPV is a very low or falling WBC count, usually
5000 cells/dL.

Best of luck.

Phil

"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

FPV is not a completely fatal disease. If the cats can be supported for 5-7
days after onset of the disease, the chances of recovery are usually good to
excellent. The only kittens we've lost to FPV were already in the terminal
stages of the disease. Even some kittens who are already in the terminal
stages have been saved with whole blood transfusions from cats with high
titers to FPV.



They are euthanizing over 70 cats and
kittens at the shelter to try to stem the outbreak

How incompetent/untrained/unqualified people like that are appointed and
placed in charge of shelters and the lives of hundreds of animals boggles
the mind - it must be nepotism. Shelter managers and directors should be
required by law to be certified in disease surveillance and prevention and
basic population medicine. Epidemics can be easily avoided by simply
isolating and testing *all* animals upon admission and limiting housing to
groups of no more than 4-6 animals.

The CITE Canine parvovirus antigen fecal immunoassay (Idexx Labs) although
its not licensed for feline parvovirus, it will nonetheless detect FPV
antigen in feline feces. This test makes it possible to isolate infected
cats and begin therapy *before* the kittens develop symptoms.


and then they will
attempt to sterilize the facility with bleach so it can reopen.

FVRCP vaccines for non-profit organizations cost not much more than
bleach -- including the needle and syringe! The virus is extremely stable
and can survive for years on contaminated surfaces. The virus is resistant
to most house disinfectants - except bleach.

In high-risk situations (such as your shelter's present situation), and
especially kittens who did not receive colostrum, the kittens can be
immunized with small doses of FPV antiserum from cats with high titers to
FPV. Antiserum confers protection until their immune system develops an
immunological response to the vaccine. However, just as maternal antibodies
interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, the immunity conferred by
antiserum can also interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, thus the
standard FPV vaccine protocol should be followed (series of 3 vaccinations
at 3-week intervals).


I've
never heard of feline parvo and I do live in Polk county with 3 adopted
ferals.
Does anyone have any info or advice on this virus?

http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_panleukopenia.htm


I'll be calling the
vet on Monday but I'm worried now!

Deeply appreciate any help or advice.

How old are your kittens? Have they completed the FPV vaccine series?Read
the above article and pay careful attention to the symptoms at the beginning
of the article.

Since your kittens came from a high-risk situation, I'd err on the side of
caution and ask your vet to run a blood test and a parvovirus antigen
fecal test. The hallmark of FPV is a very low or falling WBC count, usually
5000 cells/dL.

Best of luck.

Phil

"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

FPV is not a completely fatal disease. If the cats can be supported for 5-7
days after onset of the disease, the chances of recovery are usually good to
excellent. The only kittens we've lost to FPV were already in the terminal
stages of the disease. Even some kittens who are already in the terminal
stages have been saved with whole blood transfusions from cats with high
titers to FPV.



They are euthanizing over 70 cats and
kittens at the shelter to try to stem the outbreak

How incompetent/untrained/unqualified people like that are appointed and
placed in charge of shelters and the lives of hundreds of animals boggles
the mind - it must be nepotism. Shelter managers and directors should be
required by law to be certified in disease surveillance and prevention and
basic population medicine. Epidemics can be easily avoided by simply
isolating and testing *all* animals upon admission and limiting housing to
groups of no more than 4-6 animals.

The CITE Canine parvovirus antigen fecal immunoassay (Idexx Labs) although
its not licensed for feline parvovirus, it will nonetheless detect FPV
antigen in feline feces. This test makes it possible to isolate infected
cats and begin therapy *before* the kittens develop symptoms.


and then they will
attempt to sterilize the facility with bleach so it can reopen.

FVRCP vaccines for non-profit organizations cost not much more than
bleach -- including the needle and syringe! The virus is extremely stable
and can survive for years on contaminated surfaces. The virus is resistant
to most house disinfectants - except bleach.

In high-risk situations (such as your shelter's present situation), and
especially kittens who did not receive colostrum, the kittens can be
immunized with small doses of FPV antiserum from cats with high titers to
FPV. Antiserum confers protection until their immune system develops an
immunological response to the vaccine. However, just as maternal antibodies
interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, the immunity conferred by
antiserum can also interfere with vaccine-induced immunity, thus the
standard FPV vaccine protocol should be followed (series of 3 vaccinations
at 3-week intervals).


I've
never heard of feline parvo and I do live in Polk county with 3 adopted
ferals.
Does anyone have any info or advice on this virus?

http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_panleukopenia.htm


I'll be calling the
vet on Monday but I'm worried now!

Deeply appreciate any help or advice.

How old are your kittens? Have they completed the FPV vaccine series?Read
the above article and pay careful attention to the symptoms at the beginning
of the article.

Since your kittens came from a high-risk situation, I'd err on the side of
caution and ask your vet to run a blood test and a parvovirus antigen
fecal test. The hallmark of FPV is a very low or falling WBC count, usually
5000 cells/dL.

Best of luck.

Phil

In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal. I believe
it breaks through the common vaccines (though it's apparent that there's
a much lower fatality rate among vaccinated individuals). I don't have
much more information than that, only that cat rescuers I converse with
online have had near 100% fatalities among kittens that have passed
through shelters, despite ordinary precautions. An outbreak last year
was devastating; at least one woman has lost a litter this year and was
on pins and needles afraid she had infected another litter or worse yet
her own household. (It proved a false alarm.)

This sounds like a wave of the same new strain.

It's scary stuff, and makes a person grateful for modern vaccines.

-Alison in OH

In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal. I believe
it breaks through the common vaccines (though it's apparent that there's
a much lower fatality rate among vaccinated individuals). I don't have
much more information than that, only that cat rescuers I converse with
online have had near 100% fatalities among kittens that have passed
through shelters, despite ordinary precautions. An outbreak last year
was devastating; at least one woman has lost a litter this year and was
on pins and needles afraid she had infected another litter or worse yet
her own household. (It proved a false alarm.)

This sounds like a wave of the same new strain.

It's scary stuff, and makes a person grateful for modern vaccines.

-Alison in OH

In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal. I believe
it breaks through the common vaccines (though it's apparent that there's
a much lower fatality rate among vaccinated individuals). I don't have
much more information than that, only that cat rescuers I converse with
online have had near 100% fatalities among kittens that have passed
through shelters, despite ordinary precautions. An outbreak last year
was devastating; at least one woman has lost a litter this year and was
on pins and needles afraid she had infected another litter or worse yet
her own household. (It proved a false alarm.)

This sounds like a wave of the same new strain.

It's scary stuff, and makes a person grateful for modern vaccines.

-Alison in OH

"Alison Perera" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went
out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal.

I'm in the northeast... I've heard rumors about a "new killer strain" of FPV
from California to New York, but neither my shelter or the shelters we work
with have encountered any such supervirus.

There's a strong possibility, at least in some cases, the vaccines failed
because the protocol wasn't followed correctly.

If you come across a journal article or "official" statement (e.g., Cornell)
please post it.

Phil

"Alison Perera" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went
out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal.

I'm in the northeast... I've heard rumors about a "new killer strain" of FPV
from California to New York, but neither my shelter or the shelters we work
with have encountered any such supervirus.

There's a strong possibility, at least in some cases, the vaccines failed
because the protocol wasn't followed correctly.

If you come across a journal article or "official" statement (e.g., Cornell)
please post it.

Phil

"Alison Perera" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Phil P." wrote:


"rose ricciuto" wrote in message
...
There is a large outbreak of feline parvo in Polk county in central
Florida. According to news reports it's incredibly contagious, hard to
kill, completely fatal virus.

FPV is an *entirely* preventable disease. The extremely effective FPV
vaccine has kept the virus in check for the last 20 years. There's
absolutely no excuse for FPV epidemics! Mass euthanasias from FPV went
out
in the 70s!

In case it isn't clear from Phil's post, feline parvovirus causes
panleukopenia aka distemper, a well-known disease of cats.

I'm not sure Phil is aware, however, that in parts of the country (I
want to say northeast but am not sure), a new strain of distemper/FPV
has been erupting, that is quite contagious and quite fatal.

I'm in the northeast... I've heard rumors about a "new killer strain" of FPV
from California to New York, but neither my shelter or the shelters we work
with have encountered any such supervirus.

There's a strong possibility, at least in some cases, the vaccines failed
because the protocol wasn't followed correctly.

If you come across a journal article or "official" statement (e.g., Cornell)
please post it.

Phil