Prevention of outbreaks through vaccination has proven quite successful. Disinfection of premises, following a panleukopenia outbreak, should be by formaldehyde gas. This may be generated by adding a tablespoon of potassium permanganate to 250 ml of formalin. Fumigation should be followed, after 12 hours, by thorough ventilation and washing. The disease is caused by a rather labile virus that can survive in the environment for only one or two days, can withstand freezing, but is sensitive to detergents and formaldehyde.
Transmission is by direct contact and possibly transplacentally to the fetus.
Signs of the infection are nonspecific, involving the gradual onset of a depressive illness with inappetence, loss of condition and pale mucous membranes. Since the virus can suppress the normal immune response, other diseases, such as respiratory infection and infectious anemia, will often be present concurrently. Treatment of this, as of all leukemias, is very discouraging and euthanasia is advised. This chronic, progressive disease is associated with fever, emaciation, abdominal exudations and the growth of granulomas in various organs. It is caused by a very labile, pleomorphic coronavirus and occurs most frequently in cats under two years old, following incubation periods of UD to four months.