188 JAVMA • Vol 253 • No. 2 • July 15, 2018 Small Animals F eline panleukopenia virus infection is an impor- tant infectious disease of cats that can also affect other mammalian species, including raccoons, foxes, minks, and ring-tailed cats. A nonenveloped, single- stranded DNA virus, FPV is a type of parvovirus that is genetically, structurally, and antigenically related to CPV, which can also infect cats (ie, CPV strains 2a, 2b, and 2c). 1–3 After a host is exposed, the virus replicates with high mitotic activity in tissues such as intestines, bone marrow, and, in young and adult cats, neurons. 4,5 Replication in the bone marrow usu- ally leads to immunosuppression caused by killing of myeloid colony progenitors. 4 Survival estimates and outcome predictors for shelter cats with feline panleukopenia virus infection Federico Porporato DVM Marian C. Horzinek† DVM, PhD Regina Hofmann-Lehmann DVM Filippo Ferri DVM Gabriele Gerardi DVM Barbara Contiero DStat Tommaso Vezzosi DVM Paola Rocchi DVM Edoardo Auriemma DVM Hans Lutz DVM, PhD Eric Zini DVM, PhD From the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, 28060 Granozzo con Monticello (NO), Italy (Porporato, Ferri, Vezzosi, Roc- chi, Auriemma, Zini); former Institute of Virology, Depart- ment of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands (Horzinek); Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland (Hofmann-Lehmann, Lutz); Department of Animal Medi- cine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy (Gerardi, Contiero, Zini); and Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Uni- versity of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland (Zini). Address correspondence to Dr. Porporato (federico. porporato@istitutoveterinarionovara.it). †Deceased. OBJECTIVE To determine survival estimates and outcome predictors for shelter cats with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 177 shelter cats with FPV infection. PROCEDURES Medical records of cats treated for FPV infection from 2011 through 2013 were reviewed to collect information pertaining to signalment; history; re- sults of physical examination, CBC, serum biochemical analysis, and blood gas analysis; and treatments (antimicrobials, antiparasitics, antivirals, anti- emetics, analgesics, crystalloid or colloid solutions, and blood products). Survival time and outcome predictors were determined by means of Ka- plan-Meier estimation, logistic regression, and mixed-model ANOVA. RESULTS Median survival time after hospital admission was 3 days; 20.3% (36/177) of cats survived to discharge from the hospital. Risk of nonsurvival was greater in cats with (vs without) signs of lethargy, rectal temperature < 37.9°C (100.2°F), or low body weight at hospital admission. Lower (vs higher) leu- kocyte count on days 3, 4, and 7 of hospitalization, but not at admission, was associated with nonsurvival. Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, antiparasitics, and maropitant but not interferon- ω were associated with survival, whereas glucose infusion was associated with nonsurvival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that FPV infection carried a poor prognosis for shelter cats. Several variables measured at admission or during hospitalization were associated with outcome. Remarkably and contrary to the exist- ing literature, leukopenia at admission had no association with outcome, possibly owing to early prevention of complications. ( J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018;253:188–195) Severity of FPV infection depends on the inten- sity of clinical signs on hospital admission and the degree of hematologic abnormalities (particularly of leukopenia) and can range from subclinical to per- acute and deadly. 6 The virus can easily spread from cat to cat in animal shelters and multicat households because of its strong environmental stability. Com- mon clinical signs on initial evaluation of affected cats include fever, anorexia, dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea. Diarrhea is less common than vomit- ing, 7 and hemorrhagic diarrhea is uncommon. 8 When death occurs, it is usually because of complications, including bacteremia or septicemia, severe dehydra- tion, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. 7 Infection with FPV has been associated with mortal- ity rates of approximately 50% in cats. 9,10 Those sur- viving this infection for > 5 days usually recover. 8 Only 1 study 10 has been reported in which fac- tors associated with prognosis were investigated in cats with FPV infection. In that study, 244 cats re- ABBREVIATIONS CI Confdence interval CPV Canine parvovirus FPV Feline panleukopenia virus RR Relative risk