Feline panleukopenia (also called feline infectious enteritis or feline distemper) is a highly contagious, often fatal, viral disease of cats. Kittens are affected most severely. Feline panleukopenia virus, the parvovirus that causes this disease, occurs worldwide and can persist for more than a year in the environment unless potent disinfectants are used to inactivate it. The term “panleukopeni
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most important infectious diseases of cats worldwide. Affected cats can develop anemia (a low red blood cell level), cancers, and/or suppression of the immune system. The disease worsens over time and is usually fatal. The virus can infect domestic and wild cats (such as lions). Widespread testing and vaccination efforts have helped to reduce the prevalence of the disease over the past 30 years, and in 2010 approximately 3% of the cats i
Feline infectious peritonitis (often called FIP) is a severe, usually fatal disease caused by a feline coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that chiefly cause respiratory infections. The disease is seen worldwide. Although a large number of cats may be infected with the feline coronavirus, only a few develop the severe form of the disease. It is unknown why only certain cats are affected, but it is thought that a mutation within the virus and an inappropriate immune
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) decreases the function of the immune system of domestic and wild cats. FIV-infected cats are more like to acquire other types of infections that can affect other parts of the body, including the gums, mouth, digestive tract, urinary tract, and skin. They also have an increased risk of developing certain types of blood cancers. The virus is spread from cat to cat through saliva, primarily by bi
Monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by rickettsia organisms (a specialized type of bacteria that live only inside other cells). In dogs, the disease is usually caused by Ehrlichia canis, although other types of rickettsia are sometimes involved. A similar disease has been occasionally identified in cats in Africa, France, and the United States; however, the exact species causing the infection has not been determined. The disease is transmitted by tic
Anthrax is an often fatal infectious disease that usually infects grazing herbivores but may infect all warm-blooded animals, including cats and humans. Under-diagnosis and unreliable reporting make it difficult to estimate the true frequency of anthrax worldwide; however, anthrax has been reported from nearly every continent. Under normal circumstances, anthrax outbreaks in the United States are extremely rare. Anthrax received much attention in 2001 in relation to
Amyloidosis is a condition that occurs when amyloid, a substance composed of abnormally folded protein, is deposited in various organs of the body. Some types of amyloidosis are hereditary in cats. Abyssinian cats are known to be at risk for hereditary amyloidosis, in which an abnormal gene causes amyloid to be produced. Other types occur as a result of infections, various cancers, or other inflammatory or immune-related conditions. H
A variety of structural and functional defects have been described in animals. These defects are usually classified by the body system primarily affected, and many are discussed under the appropriate body system. Neonates with birth defects have survived a disruptive event during embryonic or fetal development. Defective development may also cause embryonic loss, fetal death, mummification, abortion (a loss of pregnancy or a miscarriage), stillbirth, a newborn not capable of surv
There are many disorders that can affect multiple parts of the body. These may be caused by bacteria, viruses, poisonous or toxic substances in the environment, and other health hazards. Disorders affecting multiple body systems can also be inherited or develop while the animal is still in the womb. Diseases or conditions that involve multiple organ systems may also be described as systemic or generalized.
Many disorders are discussed in this chapter. A listi
A number of whole-body diseases also affect the skin. In some instances, the skin changes are characteristic of the particular disease. Often, however, the signs are not obviously associated with the underlying condition and must be carefully distinguished from primary skin disorders. Some of these secondary disorders are mentioned briefly below and are also described in the chapters on the specific disorders. Some skin disorders may be associated with a poor diet. However, this