Prevalence of antibodies against feline panleukopenia virus in client-owned cats in Southern Germany.
Feline panleukopenia is a frequent and commonly fatal disease of cats. Recent published studies have raised suspicions that some cats fail to develop antibodies after vaccination. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) in cats in Southern Germany, and to identify factors that are associated with a lack of antibodies. In total, 350 cats presented to the Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet were randomly included in the study. Information regarding signalment, origin, environment, lifestyle, housing conditions, health status, chronic diseases, glucocorticoid therapy, and vaccination status were collected. Antibodies were detected by haemagglutination inhibition test. Asymptomatic chi-squared tests and univariable logistic regression were used to investigate associations between a lack of antibodies and the different variables. Associations determined to be statistically significant at P<0.1 were verified by a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Of the 350 cats, 103 (29.4%) had no antibodies against FPV. Chronic kidney disease, neoplasia, glucocorticoid therapy, and vaccination status were significantly associated with a lack of antibodies. The cats with no antibodies were likely to have inadequate immunity against panleukopenia and those with chronic diseases or receiving glucocorticoids were less likely to be protected.
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet of Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: katherina.mende@googlemail.com.
Katherina
K
Mende
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet of Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Bianca
B
Stuetzer
Clinic of Ruminants and Herd Management, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet of Munich, Sonnenstrasse 16, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany.
Carola
C
Sauter-Louis
Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Timo
T
Homeier
Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Uwe
U
Truyen
Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet of Munich, Veterinaerstrasse 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Katrin
K
Hartmann
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002415:Cats; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005254:Feline Panleukopenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D028301:Feline Panleukopenia Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral
Feline panleukopenia virus; Haemagglutination inhibition; Parvovirus; Titre; Vaccination