Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease caused by a feline coronavirus (FCoV).  This virus is actually carried by many cats, with prevalences ranging from 30-40% in most homes with pet cats, and increasing to 80-100% where the population density is high – ie in multi-cat households, shelters and breeding colonies.

The form of coronavirus carried by most cats is referred to as feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which rarely causes disease in itself.  It is when this virus mutates into a virus with the ability to cause disease that we then refer to it as the FIP virus (FIPV).  Considering the vast number of cats that carry the FECV, mutation to FIPV occurs only rarely.

Symptoms

There are two forms of FIP – wet and dry.  The wet (effusive) form results in fluid accumulation in the abdomen and chest, causing abdominal distension or difficulty breathing. This fluid is often a yellow colour.  In the dry (non-effusive) form, inflammatory lesions called pyogranulomas are found throughout the body, including the eyes, kidneys, liver and nervous system. In these cats, the symptoms depend on the organ most affected by disease.

There are no clinical signs that are unique for the disease; however with both forms of FIP cats will commonly show vague signs such as a loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and a fluctuating fever that is not responsive to antibiotics.
Most cats with FIP are between 6 months to 2 years of age.

Transmission

The benign FECV inhabits cells of the intestinal tract and is shed in feces.  Cats become infected through the fecal-oral route, after ingestion of the virus during grooming or eating. The mutant FIPV responsible for causing disease is considered to be contagious among cats only rarely. More commonly, mutations from FECV to FIPV arise within an individual cat.  The precise cause of this mutation is not known, and is likely multifactorial. Since the FIPV lives inside a type of white blood cell and no longer inhabits the intestine, once this mutation occurs, it is no longer shed in feces.

Prevention

Prevention of FIP is difficult as there are many factors contributing to development of the disease.  Research has demonstrated a genetic predisposition to developing FIP, meaning some cats may be inherently more susceptible.  Therefore, although the FIPV itself is not contagious, multiple cats within a familial line may be affected.  Selective breeding for overall disease resistance and health, along with stress reduction, is likely beneficial.

Testing

To date, there is no test to screen healthy cats for the risk of developing FIP.  In order to diagnose FIP in a sick cat, veterinarians must piece together several diagnostic clues, including clinical signs and common findings on lab work that correlate with FIP as well as rule out other diseases. Analysis of any fluid in the abdomen or chest is helpful. The gold standard for diagnosis is examination of affected tissues, obtained by biopsy or on post-mortem examination.
Because most cats that carry the FECV will not go on to develop FIP, antibody tests for feline coronavirus are difficult to interpret and are not very helpful in the diagnosis of FIP.

Vaccination

There is a vaccine currently available for FIP, but the AAFP does not recommend its use due to limited evidence for efficacy.

Treatment

There are no known effective treatments for cats with FIP. Currently, several research groups are working on novel approaches to treat the disease, so in the future a treatment may become available.  Palliative care is currently the main goal, maintaining quality of life and patient comfort until humane euthanasia is chosen.

Online Resources

Cornell Feline Health Center
The Cornell Feline Health Center is a small, independently funded center whose goals and research are directed to improving the health and well-being of cats everywhere.

International Cat Care 
Formally the Feline Advisory Bureau, International Cat Care is a charity passionate about improving the care of all cats. Their site contains much information on cat health information.

The Winn Feline Foundation
Winn supports and funds studies to improve cat health. Included on their site is information on FIP written by Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline) and Melissa Kennedy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM.

Submitted by Amy Lowe, DVM

Source : http://www.catvets.com/cat-owners/disease-and-conditions/fip

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