Background
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is very resistant and highly contagious and infects domestic cats and other felids. FPV is particularly widespread among sheltered cats, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, causing severe gastroenteritis characterized by anorexia, lethargy, fever, dehydration, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and vomiting. There is currently no data 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 whether are associated with clinical and laboratory findings. Cats affected by FPV were enrolled in the study if an abdominal ultrasound was performed within 12 hours of diagnosis. Clinical, laboratory and survival data were collected from medical records. Ultrasonographic examinations were reviewed for gastrointestinal abnormalities and their associations with the above data were explored.
Results
Twenty-one cats were included. Nine cats (42.9%) died and 12 (57.1%) recovered. Based on ultrasonography, the duodenum and jejunum showed thinning of the mucosal layer in 70.6% and 66.6% of cats, thickening of the muscular layer in 52.9% and 57.1% of cats, and hyperechogenicity of the mucosa in 41.2% and 33.3%. Jejunal hyperechoic mucosal band paralleling the submucosa and irregular luminal surface were both observed in 33.3% of the 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).
Conclusion
This study provides ultrasonographic features of naturally-occurring FPV in cats, which, as expected, are compatible with gastroenteropathy. The most frequent findings were diffuse small intestine mucosal layer thinning, muscular layer thickening and mucosal hyperechogenicity, and jejunal hyperechoic mucosal band and irregular luminal surface. At diagnosis, ultrasonographic features may be useful to assess survival.

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On 08 Dec, 2020
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On 27 Aug, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
Received 29 May, 2020
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Received 16 Apr, 2020
On 08 Apr, 2020
Invitations sent on 28 Mar, 2020
On 26 Mar, 2020
On 18 Mar, 2020
On 17 Mar, 2020
On 13 Mar, 2020
On 08 Dec, 2020
On 06 Dec, 2020
Posted 06 Dec, 2020
On 06 Dec, 2020
On 03 Dec, 2020
Posted 02 Dec, 2020
On 02 Dec, 2020
Received 24 Nov, 2020
On 18 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 17 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
On 11 Nov, 2020
Posted 31 Aug, 2020
On 14 Oct, 2020
Received 05 Oct, 2020
Received 12 Sep, 2020
On 07 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 03 Sep, 2020
On 03 Sep, 2020
On 28 Aug, 2020
On 27 Aug, 2020
On 27 Aug, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
Received 29 May, 2020
On 27 Apr, 2020
Received 16 Apr, 2020
On 08 Apr, 2020
Invitations sent on 28 Mar, 2020
On 26 Mar, 2020
On 18 Mar, 2020
On 17 Mar, 2020
On 13 Mar, 2020
Background
Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is very resistant and highly contagious and infects domestic cats and other felids. FPV is particularly widespread among sheltered cats, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, causing severe gastroenteritis characterized by anorexia, lethargy, fever, dehydration, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and vomiting. There is currently no data 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 whether are associated with clinical and laboratory findings. Cats affected by FPV were enrolled in the study if an abdominal ultrasound was performed within 12 hours of diagnosis. Clinical, laboratory and survival data were collected from medical records. Ultrasonographic examinations were reviewed for gastrointestinal abnormalities and their associations with the above data were explored.
Results
Twenty-one cats were included. Nine cats (42.9%) died and 12 (57.1%) recovered. Based on ultrasonography, the duodenum and jejunum showed thinning of the mucosal layer in 70.6% and 66.6% of cats, thickening of the muscular layer in 52.9% and 57.1% of cats, and hyperechogenicity of the mucosa in 41.2% and 33.3%. Jejunal hyperechoic mucosal band paralleling the submucosa and irregular luminal surface were both observed in 33.3% of the 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).
Conclusion
This study provides ultrasonographic features of naturally-occurring FPV in cats, which, as expected, are compatible with gastroenteropathy. The most frequent findings were diffuse small intestine mucosal layer thinning, muscular layer thickening and mucosal hyperechogenicity, and jejunal hyperechoic mucosal band and irregular luminal surface. At diagnosis, ultrasonographic features may be useful to assess survival.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4
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