Infectious peritonitis (FIP) - facts and myths
One of the health problems of cats that breeders are most concerned about is Viral Peritonitis (FIP).
A feeling of powerlessness engulfs us when we are faced with this disease - because it is quite difficult both to prevent and practically impossible to treat. But, besides, we still know very little about this disease.
It is generally believed that FIP is a disease caused by a coronavirus, which is present in almost all cats in a "normal" state, and which can mutate into FIP. But recently, information has begun to appear from various sources that the coronavirus has nothing to do with the occurrence of FIP.
There is also an opinion that there are several strains of this virus, and only one mutates into FIP. Unfortunately, modern science cannot yet find a way to isolate different strains of coronavirus.
At the moment, tests (analyses) only allow us to see the "titers" - that is, the quantitative expression of the coronavirus, but there are no reliable tests for the FIP virus, and scientists around the world still cannot reliably determine the cause of such a mutation....
Signs of FIP:
General weakness
High temperature
Weight Loss
Vomiting
Anemia
Swollen belly
Damage to the nervous system
Kidney damage
Liver damage
Eye disease
FIP always has a fatal outcome, and there is very little we can do.
Unfortunately, researchers don't know much about this disease – much less than we would like. But, nevertheless, in recent years we have made some progress in understanding the problem.
Here are some Facts and Misconceptions on this issue:
Delusion:
FIP virus and coronavirus are the same thing
fact:
The common name of the coronavirus in cats is FECV (feline enteric coronavirus). When FECV mutates into a disease-causing form, we call it FIPV (feline infectious peritonitis virus. FIP is the name of a clinical disease caused by a mutated coronavirus.
FIP is a disease caused by a coronavirus mutation, which happens quite rarely.
Delusion:
My cat got infected with FIP in a kennel or at an exhibition
fact:
The coronavirus mutation occurs FROM WITHIN.
The vast majority of cats are not "infected" with FIP, but produce it themselves from a mutation of their own, harmless coronavirus, which is present in most cats (FECV)
Delusion:
I am afraid that my cat with FIP will infect all my other cats
fact:
Cats with FIP do not pose a risk to other animals and do not need isolation
Delusion:
I bought a cat whose antibodies have titers of 1:800, and this means that she is infected with FIP
fact:
Antibody titers have no significance either for the diagnosis of FIP or for the prognosis of its treatment
Delusion:
Cats with FIP always have a big swollen belly
fact:
FIP can be of dry and wet form. In the most severe form – wet - the cat's stomach increases due to the spillage of liquid, as a result of damage to internal organs. Fluid can also accumulate in the chest, which causes difficulty breathing. Other signs are high fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, depression. With a dry form, bloating does not occur.
Delusion:
If a cat has a swollen belly– she must have FIP.
fact:
There may be other reasons for this symptom that are not related to FIP. Only an experienced veterinarian, after appropriate laboratory tests, can give an accurate diagnosis.
Delusion:
The cat has a swollen belly and high coronavirus titers – the veterinarian believes that the cat should have FIP
fact:
Although the combination of symptoms suggests the presence of FIP, but at the moment there are no completely reliable diagnostic tests in cats with FIP patients. Biopsy (microscopic examination of samples) is the only reliable way to diagnose FIP. Negative antibody titers by no means negate the presence of FIP. Similarly, positive titles do not indicate the presence of FIP.
Delusion:
I've heard about FIP tests
fact:
There are no FIP tests. Incorrectly called "FIP tests", such tests simply show the presence of coronavirus. The presence of coronavirus antibodies is not a definitive diagnosis and conclusion. The determination of such titers can be useful in a large nursery, shelter – they indicate that this animal was exposed to coronavirus, came into contact with it and developed antibodies against it. But even the presence of high titles does not directly indicate that the cat will develop FIP.
Delusion:
I have heard that FIP is a hereditary disease
fact:
FIP is not an inherited disease. We can only say that it is possible that a cat may have a predisposition to the development of FIP, due to low immunity. Therefore, the breeder must conduct selection in the nursery and for resistance to various types of infections – especially fungal and viral.
Cats with strong innate immunity to infections will be less likely to develop a mutation that leads to FIP. Unfortunately, even in such animals there is no guarantee that immunity will be sufficient and the animal will always be protected from the risk of developing FIP
Delusion:
If I vaccinate my cats, they won't get sick
fact:
Although vaccines have been created (in the USA), their effectiveness and safety are in great doubt.
Delusion:
My cat got infected with FIP from my new cat that I bought
fact:
Transmission of FIP from one cat to another is extremely rare
Delusion:
Only small kittens suffer from FIP
fact:
The peak of FIP exposure is from 6 months to 2 years (the most frequent period of the disease is 10 months).
Delusion:
Kittens infected with FIP from their mother
fact:
The disease of FIP kittens from the mother on fixed
Delusion:
If tests are done and the titles are negative, the cat will never get sick with FIP
fact:
Unfortunately, there is no way to protect a healthy cat from the risk of developing FIP
Delusion:
If a cat has died from FIP, you cannot have other cats for several years, because the virus remains in your house for years.
fact:
As a rule, the virus is unstable outside its carrier, but (as proven by laboratory studies) can remain on dry surfaces for 7 weeks. The FIP virus can be destroyed by most household detergents and disinfectants.
Divider Bar
Caution! CORONAVIRUS
Academician A.S. SPIRIN
Cat diseases are always a hot topic among lovers of these animals, especially when we are powerless to help our pets.
Therefore, I would like to touch upon the problem of one terrible viral disease, which our breeders and veterinarians have almost never encountered before, but which, due to the appearance of pedigree cat kennels in our country, is beginning to rise to full height. We are talking about so-called coronavirus infections.
Coronavirus is a spherical particle with a diameter of about 100nm (one ten-thousandth of a millimeter), relatively complex in structure, with a protein-lipid shell with large bulbous protrusions ("crown"). The virus genome is a single-stranded semantic (+) RNA with a molecular weight of 6-8 million.
Coronaviruses are common pathogens of serious diseases (often fatal) in animals. Cats have two known major diseases caused by these viruses: feline coronavirus enteritis and feline infectious peritonitis.
Feline enteric coronavirus (feline enteric coronavirus, FECV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (feline infectious peritonitis virus, FIPV), as it now turns out, are close strains of the same virus. They are harmless to humans.
FECV (feline enteritis) mainly affects the cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine of a cat and causes diarrhea (diarrhea). Kittens are especially susceptible to the virus after the age of one or two months. The disease usually begins with vomiting, and then turns into diarrhea, which lasts 2-4 days, after which recovery is observed.
However, animals remain carriers of the virus for a long time, which is excreted with feces and easily infects other kittens if they use the same toilet. Although this is a very common and frequent disease of kittens, it is not so dangerous that it attracts a lot of attention.
Infectious peritonitis (FIPV)
It occurs unexpectedly and, as it were, spontaneously in kittens and young animals. In contrast to the disease described above, this disease almost inevitably ends in death.
The virus infects macrophages (white blood cells), destroying them and thereby opening the way for infection in tissues. There is no effective preventive vaccine against this disease or treatment. Most often, the disease is noticed by a progressively swollen abdomen, against the background of increased, fluctuating body temperature. This is the so-called "wet" form of FIP ("dropsy"). But there is (much less often) a "dry" form, when there are no external signs, but only an increased fluctuating temperature, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss is observed. The disease has become one of the most serious problems in US nurseries in recent years. The more numerous and boring the nursery, the more cases of FIP.
It is impossible to save sick animals.
Moreover, it is impossible to make even an early diagnosis!!! positive immunological tests for the virus can also be given by perfectly healthy animals if they are carriers of a relatively harmless FECV, which does not differ immunologically from FIPV.
FIPV multiplies and exists in blood cells!!!, and not in the intestine, and therefore is not excreted with feces (or even with saliva)!
In other words, FIPV is most likely not transmitted from animal to animal, i.e. it is not contagious in the usual sense of the word.
Where does this terrible disease come from?
According to the latest data, the fatal disease FIPV occurs due to a mutation of the enteritis coronavirus (FECV), which mutates into a form that affects blood cells.
And the enteritis coronavirus (FECV) itself, although contagious and transmitted from animal to animal through feces, is NOT DANGEROUS. because IT is NOT FATAL!
Therefore, wherever a coronavirus infection is observed, FIP can also occur.
Excerpts from the article by Academician A.S. SPIRIN
Friend No. 2, 1995, p. 19.
Deadly FIP and harmless coronavirus
For those who first encountered coronavirus and/or suspected infectious feline peritonitis (aka IPC, FIP, viral peritonitis) from your pet.
What is known today:
The spread of coronavirus is very widespread: according to veterinary statistics, it is present in 82% of show cats and 53% of purebred cats.
Occasionally, in some cats (most often kittens and teenagers under a year old), the coronavirus mutates and causes an incurable disease - FIP. The causes of the mutation have not been precisely clarified, but are presumably related to the type of virus and innate predisposition. It is also noted that the "trigger" for the occurrence of a mutation is often the impact of various stress factors (for example, vaccination, moving to a new house, etc.). It is impossible to predict in advance who has the coronavirus mutates, who does not. However, it is known that 90% of cats will not mutate and the animal will live happily ever after without even noticing that it was once infected. Most of these animals on their own, without any treatment, will part with the virus as imperceptibly as they met.
There is no magic medicine that would prove its effectiveness and safety in the fight against coronavirus and infectious peritonitis (FIP). Our veterinarians' favorite immunostimulants and "vitamins" like Gamavit are either useless or completely contraindicated. Some immunosuppressants (prednisone/ dexamethasone) with FIP can be recommended as a supportive treatment, but no more. Vaccination (Primucel) is useless.
There are two forms of FIP - non-effusion and effusion (dry and wet). Effusion is characterized by effusion into the abdominal/thoracic cavity (ascites) and is currently incurable.
To clarify the diagnosis of "viral peritonitis (FIP)", in addition to standard blood tests (UAC and biochemistry), it is necessary to conduct:
- Blood serum examination:
serology (measurement of antibody titers to coronavirus);
AGP testing;
- examination of the effusion fluid:
electrophoresis (A/G ratio (albumins/globulins));
cytology (number of cells per ml and their type);
the Rivalta sample.
It is also relevant to study the effusion by immunofluorescence or tissue samples by immunohistochemistry (the amount of virus in macrophages is estimated). Only these studies (and not each individually, but all in a complex) really make sense.
If you are offered to perform a PCR analysis of blood, feces or ascites for a "FIP test" - do not waste money. PCR assays do not carry information for the diagnosis of FIP: they can be both positive and negative, but neither proves anything. PCR may be needed only to identify lifelong carriers of coronavirus in the nursery and in order to get an answer, this analysis will have to be repeated many times.
About coronavirus in the nursery:
- A breeder whose nursery is pristine from coronavirus cannot know whether his animals have a hereditary tendency to develop FIP or not. He will find out this only after his graduate meets with the coronavirus in his new home and either recovers spontaneously or dies from infectious peritonitis;
- It makes sense for a breeder in whose kennel there is or may be a coronavirus to make sure before the sale that the kitten adequately reacts to the effects of stress factors (vaccination, castration / sterilization, participation in the exhibition). This will reduce the likelihood of a kitten's FIP disease in a new home and give the breeder the opportunity to conduct a selection for resistance to coronavirus among their producers.;
- Instead of shamanic dances on "removing coronavirus from the nursery", it is recommended to observe the usual sanitary requirements: cleanliness, lack of crowding, a separate room for women in labor, timely cleaning of toilets, sufficient removal of food bowls from trays. If one of the kittens is sick with FIP, it is worth disbanding the breeding pair from which this kitten was obtained, or withdrawing from breeding the producers of this pair in order to exclude further obtaining kittens with an innate tendency to develop viral peritonitis.
If a kitten died in a new house from FIP, the owner and breeder should be aware that the cause of death is not a coronavirus, but its mutation, which cannot be predicted and prevented. Therefore, no one should be blamed for the death of the kitten.
A working scheme to get rid of the coronavirus.
2 injections of vitafel-globulin or 3 serums
the course of cycloferon 1.2.4.7.10.14 day 0.5 regardless of age
katozal or dufolayt 4 days according to the instructions
furazolidone 3 times a day on a tablet - 8-10 days
a common antibiotic to remove the secondary - chemomycin or terramycin according to the instructions and by weight
oddly enough, nothing else is needed. After 3 weeks, you can do a repeat analysis and sleep peacefully.
In the acute course of the disease, for kittens it is still necessary to drink the bacteriophage polyvalent and vitafel for 1 dose more to do... and Dufolite is better in the vein, not in the scruff of the neck..
Trichopol\Metronidazole, they are akin to Furazolidone. The scheme is as follows - 22 mg / kg divided into 2 doses. The course is 7 days, the course is repeated in 1-1.5 months. The point is to clear the gastrointestinal tract of pathogenic microbes and protozoa, if any. Trichopol is used at the very beginning of treatment. I often add Phthalazole - in the presence of diarrhea or unstable stool with mucus.
A source: https://www.oldbluzcoon.com