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Client Library Article
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP)
| About FIP |
| Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is an infectious
disease caused by a common cat virus (corona virus) that is transmitted
through ingestion or inhalation of saliva and other body fluids of an
infected cat. There are two forms- a wet form that causes
fluid accumulation in the abdomen (belly) and / or chest (around the heart
and lungs), and the dry form that causes multiple organ failure due
to wide spread inflammation throughout the whole body. Young cats (up to 1.5
years of age) and cats older than 8 years are more prone to developing the
infection. There is no cure, and most kittens and cats will die with
the disease. There is a vaccine available, however, the effectiveness is
questionable. |
| Symptoms: dry form of
FIP |
- Stunted growth / weight loss
- Intermittent fever of unknown origin
- Granulomas (solid clumps of inflammatory white blood cells) in
peritoneal cavity (belly)
- Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
- Uveitis (inflammation in the eye)
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| Symptoms: wet form of
FIP |
- Peritonitis (distended fluid filled abdomen or belly, painful belly)
- Pleuritis (inflammation of lining of lungs) causing heavy, labored breathing.
- Ataxia (uncoordinated movement, falling over, looks drunk)
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| Diagnosis- FIP can be difficult to confirm 100 %.
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- Physical examination- the veterinarian will look for evidence
of abdominal fluid (fluid in the belly), will palpate (feel) for enlarged
lymph nodes in the mesentery (located next to the intestines in the in the
belly), inflammatory lesions in the eye (uveitis), and ataxia
(wobbly, uncoordinated movement- think drunken) due to the virus getting
into the spinal cord and brain (central nervous system or CNS).
- Blood work- CBC- (complete blood cell count) will show increased
numbers of white blood cells (for fighting infection), anemia (decreased red
blood cells) due to a chronic disease, and increased immunoglobulins or
antibodies that the cat is making to fight off the virus.
- Serology- Testing blood samples for antibodies against FIP is
very unreliable unless titers are very high
- Testing of abdominal fluid for cats with the wet form- fluid
can be analyzed for protein level, the presence of antibodies (the
cat’s way of fighting the virus) and / or antigen ( actual parts of the
virus that the cats immune system recognizes as foreign and is thus
fighting.
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| Treatment-
NONE except for supportive care which only
prolongs death. |
| Prognosis- GRAVE- nearly 100 % fatality within 6 months
of infection. |
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