Cerebellar Ataxia and Its Congenital Transmission in Cats by Feline Panleukopenia Virus

Abstract

SUMMARY Feline panleukopenia ( fpl ) virus was isolated from the cerebellums of 2 of 7 kittens having cerebellar ataxia accompanied by cerebellar hypoplasia, and from 3 others by direct cultivation of kidneys. The original disease was reproduced by inoculation of the isolated viruses into newborn kittens and ferrets. Fetuses of cats inoculated in utero had severe hypoplasia closely resembling the disease found in nature. The role of such kittens, which generally shed virus after birth, is discussed in relation to survival of virus over interepizootic periods.