Abstract
Multiple, epizootic outbreaks of feline panleukopenia (FPL) caused by feline parvovirus (FPV) occurred in eastern Australia between 2014 and 2018. Most affected cats were unvaccinated. We hypothesised that low population immunity was a major driver of re-emergent FPL. The aim of this study was to (i) determine the prevalence and predictors of seroprotective titres to FPV among shelter-housed and owned cats, and (ii) compare the prevalence of seroprotection between a region affected and unaffected by FPL outbreaks. FPV antibodies were detected by haemagglutination inhibition assay on sera from 523 cats and titres ≥1:40 were considered protective. Socioeconomic indices based on postcode and census data were included in the risk factor analysis. The prevalence of protective FPV antibody titres was high overall (94.3%), even though only 42% of cats were known to be vaccinated, and was not significantly different between outbreak and non-outbreak regions. On multivariable logistic regression analysis vaccinated cats were 29.94 times more likely to have protective FPV titres than cats not known to be vaccinated. Cats from postcodes of relatively less socioeconomic disadvantage were 5.93 times more likely to have protective FPV titres. The predictors identified for FPV seroprotective titres indicate targeted vaccination strategies in regions of socioeconomic disadvantage would be beneficial to increase population immunity. The critical level of vaccine coverage required to halt FPV transmission and prevent FPL outbreaks should be determined.
Highlights
Feline panleukopenia (FPL), caused by Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (Order Ortervirales, FamilyParvoviridae, Subfamily Parvovirinae), is characterised by severe enteritis and immunosuppression and has high morbidity and mortality
The aim of this study was to determine (i) feline parvovirus (FPV) seroprevalence and predictors of seropositivity among shelter-housed and owned cats, and (ii) whether seroprevalence differed in these two cohorts between an outbreak location in eastern Australia (Sydney) and a region with no recent history of feline panleukopenia (FPL)
The geographic origins of cats sampled in the study are Viruses 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW
Summary
Feline panleukopenia (FPL), caused by Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 (Order Ortervirales, FamilyParvoviridae, Subfamily Parvovirinae), is characterised by severe enteritis and immunosuppression and has high morbidity and mortality. Feline panleukopenia (FPL), caused by Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 Feline parvovirus (FPV) causes 95% of cases, with the remaining 5%. Viruses 2020, 12, 320 caused by canine parvovirus (CPV), including the antigenic variants CPV-2a, -2b, and 2c, known as “CPV-2a-like” viruses [1]. Between 2014 and 2018, FPL re-emerged in eastern Australia, causing multiple epizootic outbreaks with high mortality predominantly among shelter-housed cats [2]. FPV was identified as the causative agent of the first outbreak in 2014 in the state of Victoria [2]. Outbreaks in New South Wales (NSW) first occurred in 2016 and were caused by a different and distinctive FPV strain, ruling out geographic spread from Victoria. Most affected cats were unvaccinated, or vaccination history was unknown; low population immunity was hypothesised to be a major driver of FPL re-emergence [1,2]
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