Do panleukopenia carrier cats exist?
No, the virus passes very quickly through the cat, most cats only shed it for just a couple of days. Are there any long-term consequences for the cat? No. Once the virus runs its course, the lining of the stomach and intestines recovers quickly without scarring. In addition, the bone marrow produces new white blood cells to replace those that were lost. The cat recovers completely. What about prevention and protection? Panleukopenia is controlled in several ways. Cats that survive a natural infection usually develop sufficient, active immunity to protect them for the rest of their lives. Mild cases may go unnoticed and also produce immunity. It is also possible for kittens to receive immunity from their mother through the transfer of antibody. This passive immunity from the mother is temporary and its effectiveness varies in proportion to the level of antibody in the mother’s body. The immunity diminishes rapidly and is not considered effective after 12 weeks of age. Vaccines offer the
