Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Infection Feline infectious peritonitis refers to one of the diseases that can result from a coronavirus that affect cats. It affects only cats, not humans or dogs. The virus is spread through close physical contact such as sneezing and mutual grooming and through the feces, urine, saliva and respiratory secretions. Infection occurs through repeated contact to result in viral replication in the gut. Situations favoring lots of interactions between cats (i.e. catteries and multi-cat households), and especially between older and younger cats, favor transmission of this virus. Although not usually long-lived outside the cat, it can survive in the environment in the right conditions so that litter trays and food bowls are another potential source of spread between cats. Cats of any age can be affected, but most cats that are ill with FIP are usually less than 2 years old. Prevention Minimizing interactions between cats, especially between younger and older cats, is helpful to decrease the chances of transmission of this virus. If you are obtaining a kitten or cat from a breeder, ask about the presence of FIP in the cattery. There is a vaccine for FIP, but it has questionable efficacy, and thus, it is not routinely recommended. Clinical signs The disease can manifest in two forms, depending on the type of immunity the cat develops. The "wet" form- so called for production of fluid that develops in the chest and/or abdomen from inflammation of the tissues. These cats have signs of lethargy, fever, weight loss, decreased appetite and fluid in the abdomen or chest with subsequent abdominal distension and difficulty breathing. The "dry" form- so called for the lack of fluid production. Granulomatous lesions or plaques form in the kidneys, eyes and brain, and occasionally the liver and pancreas. This form of FIP is less common and can be more subtle in its presentation than the wet form. Weight loss and decreased appetite often occur. When FIP affects the eyes, it can cause a color change of the iris or deposits on the cornea, and when FIP affects the brain, it can cause staggering, weakness and seizures. Diagnosis This can be based on several tests. Body protein levels are often increased. Analysis of fluid, when present in the "wet form", is typical in appearance- yellow in color and high in protein. There is no specific test for FIP that can reliably test for this virus since it cross reacts with other viruses. Unlike the tests for feline leukemia (Felv) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that indicate a positive or negative status, the test for FIP is a titer, a measurement of antibody levels. If a cat tests positive for FIP, it may indicate that: 1) It has FIP or 2) It was exposed to FIP and is now immune or 3) It was exposed to one of the other non-fatal forms of coronovirus. While interpreting the FIP titer can be difficult, a high titer along with signs of FIP does suggest active infection. Treatment Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease. Often, supportive care is needed (nutrition, fluids) and occasionally, anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. prednisone) and antibiotics can be helpful, but these are ineffective against the virus. Immuno-modulating drugs such as interferon can be useful in some cases in improving the cat's quality of life. These drugs, however, do not change the cat's viral status. Prognosis For cats that have active disease with signs of FIP, there is a poor prognosis and the disease is fatal. However, not all cats that test positive for FIP will die, especially those not exhibiting signs of illness. If there are questions regarding this disease and its treatment, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian. The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting your regular veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every 12 months.