RECENT OUTBREAK AND CLINICAL CASE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON FELINEPANLEUKOPENIA AND FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS INFECTION INCAT IN SYLHET, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are among the most common and highly fatal viral diseases affecting cats, causing substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite their clinical significance, epidemiological data on the occurrence, distribution, and impact of these infections remain scarce in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to determine the current outbreak status and clinical case observational study of FPV and FIP in cats in Sylhet district, Bangladesh. The data were collected from government veterinary hospitals and selected private pet clinics in Sylhet during June 2025 to March 2026. Out of 1,496 clinical cases, 337 cats were positive for FPV and 89 were positive for FIP, representing an overall prevalence of22.53% and 5.95%, respectively. FPV prevalence was consistently higher than FIP and reached its peak in December (32.50%), whereas the highest prevalence of FIP was recorded in October (6.89%). FPV was more common in local cats, pet cats, male cats,
younger cats (<5 months), and non-vaccinated cats, while FIP was more frequently observed in Persian cats, male cats, and older cats (>5 months). The most common clinical findings were fever, vomition, diarrhea, dehydration, and pale mucous membranes, variation in body temperature among breeds or according to pet status, age, sex, but not significant (p>0.05). The findings highlighted that FPV was more prevalent than FIP
among cats appeared to show marked temporal variation, with a possible seasonal increase in the late months of the year and the importance of early diagnosis, strict biosecurity, supportive treatment with improved vaccination strategies for reducing these diseases.