Comparison of different diagnostic test to detect feline panleukopenia virus among cats in Kerala, India

Feline panleukopenia (FPL) is an acute viral infection of domestic and wild felids causing high mortality among non immune kittens. Commercially available immunochromatographic (IC) strips, haemagglutination (HA) test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to detect FPLV. In the current study IC strip test and HA test were compared with PCR. A total of 27 faecal samples from cats clinically suspected for FPL infection were collected from five districts of Kerala, India. Out of 27 samples tested, 10 were positive by IC strips, while 8 and 21 samples were found positive by HA test and PCR, respectively. On statistical analysis, specificity of IC strip and HA test versus PCR was excellent (100 per cent), whereas sensitivity was poor. In comparison with PCR, sensitivity for IC strip test and HA test was 47.6 per cent and 38.1 per cent, respectively. The study showed PCR assay as a sensitive, specific and rapid technique for FPLV detection in cats using faecal specimens.