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Name
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Short Description
Feline Infectious Peritonitis, FIP
Affected Animals: Both domestic and exotic cats are susceptible.
Purebred kittens are suspected to be genetically less resistant to
FIP infection.
Overview:
Cats that are infected with feline coronavirus, a
contagious virus transmitted through feces and saliva, run the risk
of developing feline infectious peritonitis, a rare and deadly form
of this disease. In most cases, the coronavirus itself is not
serious, but FIP is usually fatal. FIP causes the cat's immune
system to attack its own cells, damaging blood vessels throughout
the body. Without adequate blood flow, many of the body's organs are
severely damaged and fail. Cats that show signs of FIP generally die
from it quickly.
There are two forms of FIP, both of them equally life threatening.
The effusive, or "wet," form occurs when fluid is produced in the
body's cavities, often resulting in a swollen abdomen, fever, weight
loss, and breathing difficulties. The second form, which is
non-effusive, or "dry," can lead to neurological disorders such as
seizures and brain damage.
FIP is a frustrating disease to veterinarians. It is not yet
understood why certain cats with the coronavirus develop FIP while
others do not. There is no cure or completely effective vaccine for
this fatal illness, nor is there a diagnostic procedure, short of an
autopsy, that will conclusively determine the presence of FIP; thus,
diagnosis is based on suspicion and clinical signs. The preventive
measures available, however, are fairly effective in deterring the
spread of FIP.
Clinical Signs: Clinical signs of the effusive form of FIP can
vary, but typically include ascites, depression, anorexia, weight
loss, fever, dyspnea, and tachypnea. Clinical signs of non-effusive
FIP may include pyrexia, weight loss, depression, anorexia, ocular
lesions, icterus, and neurological signs such as ataxia and
seizures.
Symptoms: Clinical signs of the "wet" form of FIP can
include a gradual swelling of the abdomen due to fluid building up
in the cavity, depression, decreased or absent appetite, weight
loss, fever, difficulty breathing, and a rapid respiratory rate.
Clinical signs of the "dry" form of the disease may include fever,
weight loss, depression, decreased or absent appetite, eye problems,
a yellow color to the eyes or skin, and neurological signs such as
difficulty walking and seizures.
Description:
Feline infectious peritonitis is caused by the
feline coronavirus, which is shed in the saliva and feces.
Generally, cats and kittens that become infected by the coronavirus
have fairly mild symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting that resolve
without significant medical intervention. However, FIP, a rare form
of coronavirus infection, is a deadly disease with no cure.
The FIP virus causes multiple changes in the body's immune system,
leading to a destruction of the blood vessels that results in an
inadequate supply of oxygen to the body's cells. The disease
manifests itself in two ways: effusive FIP or non-effusive FIP. The
effusive or wet form is characterized by the production of large
amounts of fluid throughout the cat's body occurring because the
affected cat's immune system releases signals that cause the blood
vessels to become more permeable. As a result, fluid and white blood
cells leak out of the vessels into the body cavities, causing severe
damage throughout the body. When the blood vessels can no longer
deliver oxygen-rich blood to the organs, the cells in those organs
die, resulting in multi-organ failure and death.
Although there is no fluid production with the dry form of the
disease, multi-organ failure can result from this manifestation of
the illness as well. In addition, non-effusive FIP can attack the
brain, causing neurological disorders such as seizures.
Diagnosis:
The veterinarian must look for clinical signs of
the disease by taking a thorough history, performing a complete
physical examination of the cat, and taking blood tests that detect
abnormalities in body organs, such as the kidney or liver.
For cats that have symptoms of effusive FIP, an important diagnostic
procedure requires taking a sample of the fluid that is building up
within the cat's abdomen and submitting this for analysis of the
cell types and protein content present within the fluid. For cats
that show signs of the dry form of the disease, an organ biopsy of
the kidneys and lymph nodes can be taken and sent to a pathologist
to look for the microscopic changes that occur in cats with FIP.
This procedure is not always recommended, however, as it creates
stress that can worsen a sick cat's condition.
At this time, there are no specific diagnostic tests short of
autopsy that can determine definitively whether a cat has FIP. The
blood tests that are available simply determine if the cat has been
exposed to the coronavirus. Exposure to the coronavirus, however,
does not mean necessarily that the animal has FIP; typically, the
coronavirus leads to other minor disorders, such as intestinal
problems like diarrhea and vomiting.
Serologic testing for exposure to feline
coronavirus may be conducted if the clinical signs of FIP are
suggestive of the disease and confirmation of exposure is needed. An
owner may need such a confirmation to ensure that a pet is not
transmitting the disease to other animals. Breeding facilities also
may request such testing to determine whether there is a danger of
spreading the coronavirus to other cats.
Prognosis: Cats that develop clinical signs of FIP have a
grave prognosis: almost 100 percent of them will die. Euthanasia, or
humanely putting the cat to sleep, is generally recommended.
Transmission or Cause: FIP is caused by feline coronavirus. Cats acquire
the coronavirus when they come into close contact with the feces or
saliva of infected cats. Kittens may be more susceptible to
developing FIP because their immune systems are less developed, and
there may be a genetic predisposition for purebred kittens to get
the disease. The virus can be transmitted during grooming, through
the ingestion of infected feces, from sneezing, and from close
contact with items such as litter boxes and food bowls used by cats
with the disease. The virus can survive in the environment in dry
conditions for long periods of time. Less commonly, a mother cat can
pass on the disease to her unborn kittens.
Treatment: The treatment for cats with significant clinical
signs of FIP is usually unrewarding. Because there is no cure for
the virus, treatment must take the form of supportive care. Drugs
that suppress the immune system and help decrease the inflammation
have been used with limited success. All cats that have FIP should
be made to rest in a stress-free environment.
Prevention: Litter boxes should be kept clean. The use of
vaccines has been controversial, but a new vaccine called Primucell,
given intranasally, offers local protection in the nose and back of
the throat, which are common sites of entry for the virus. Studies
have shown that the vaccine is safe, and although it is not
completely effective, it does offer some protection against FIP. It
is advised to test a cat for coronavirus prior to administering this
vaccination, as the vaccine is unlikely to be effective if the cat
is incubating the disease. Also, cats will test positive for
exposure to the virus following vaccination.
Because of the increased risk of FIP in areas highly populated with
cats, breeders and owners of catteries especially should concern
themselves with prevention. The way newborn kittens from infected
mothers are handled from birth determines whether they will become
infected with the coronavirus. One to two weeks before delivery, the
birthing area should be kept free of cats and should be disinfected
with a bleach solution made by adding one part bleach to 31 parts
water. If the mother cat tests positive for the coronavirus, the
newborns should be removed from her at five to six weeks of age to
prevent infection; before this time period, they will be protected
from the disease by the mother's antibodies.
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