Epizootological Data on Feline Panleukopenia in the Russian Federation

Abstract

Introduction. One of the diseases most frequently occurring in the representatives of the feline family (Felidae) is feline panleukopenia. Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious disease of viral etiology with high (up to 90%) mortality. It affects representatives of the feline as well as the raccoon (Procyonidae) and the kunih (Mustelidae) families.Despite the preventive measures taken, the virus continues to circulate actively in the population of susceptible animals.The aim of the work is to analyse the epizootic situation and to review the domestic and foreign scientific publications.Materials and methods. The data obtained from the record books of a number of veterinary clinics of the cities of Ivanovo and Vladimir on the primary veterinary outpatient visits of sick animals within the period from 2020 to 2022 has become the subject of the research. Additionally, the brief description of feline panleukopenia and the epizootological data referring to the various cities of the Russian Federation available in the similar publications for the period from 2012 to 2022 is provided in the article. The data from the foreign sources on seasonal manifestation of the disease is also presented.Results. The analysis of the feline panleukopenia epizootic situation in the certain districts of the cities of Ivanovo and Vladimir has been carried out. The data on the panleukopenia permanently adverse situation in a number of the Russian Federation cities has been obtained, its share among other nosological units in cats reaches 3.6-27%. The data analysis results for the Russian cities located in the various federal districts, as well as for the cities of Ivanovo and Vladimir, has shown that the feline panleukopenia cases detection throughout the country is subject to seasonality, the peaks of cases detection fall on spring-autumn. It has also been confirmed that the main age group susceptible to panleukopenia includes kittens under the age of one year (3-6 months old). The need for more comprehensive understanding of the disease epizootic situation is pointed out as well as the need for phylogenetic studies of the new feline panleukopenia virus isolates which would enable carrying out the efficient preventive measures.Discussion and conclusions. Understanding the real epizootic situation in the Russian Federation regions and obtaining the new isolates of the feline panleukopenia virus for diagnostic, production and control purposes will make it possible to determine more efficient measures for combating this infection.