Feline Panleukopenia. I. Pathogenesis in germfree and specific pathogen-free cats.
Germfree and specific pathogen-free cats were inoculated panleukopenia vivus. Total leucocyte counts decreased significantly in both germfree and specific pathogen-free cats. Clinical illness was not seen in any germfree cat. Specific pathogen-free cats had anorexia and slight diarrhea 5-6 days after inoculation. None of the cats died. Both germfree and specific pathogen-free cats had thymic involution. No other gross lesions were seen. Tissues for histological virus isolation and immunofluorescence studies were taken daily from days 2 through 6 after inoculation. Virus-infected cells and lesions of panleukopenia were seen in the small intestine of both germfree and specific pathogen-free cats. The incidence of virus-infected cells and lesions was greater in specific pathogen-free cats than in germfree cats.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005254:Feline Panleukopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000473:pathology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology